Six-day polio drive in 13 sensitive UCs begins today

A community oriented approach would be adopted during the six-day special oral polio immunisation (OPV) campaign kicking off in the city’s 13 sensitive union councils on Thursday (today).

Dr Nusrat Ali, coordinator for polio eradication task force constituted by the city commissioner, said community and religious leaders belonging to the UCs have been taken on board to ensure 100 percent coverage.

For the 341,000 children being targeted in the drive, 1,000 teams of vaccinators will be deployed, he said. The selected UCs are located in city’s districts Central, East and West.

Responding to a question, he said the approach adopted for the campaign is expected to address issues which have previously proved a hindrance in 100 percent coverage of the areas.

The impediments particularly identified in sensitive localities were said to include repeated absence of children under-five years of age at their homes, besides the general resistance faced by healthcare workers during the activity.

Dr Ali observed that things are gradually improving through meaningful intervention of community leaders who have been able to convince concerned parents.