Zubair Qureshi
A seven-day campaign (June 3-9, 2024) against polio was launched on Monday in Islamabad’s high risk and most vulnerable Union Council (UC) I-11 that comprises areas of H-11, H-12, I-11 and I-12.
Director General (DG) of the Directorate of Health Services CDA/MCI DrIrshad Ali Jokhio along with his team members launched the drive and addressed the polio teams on the occasion. Around 24 teams have been constituted to administer polio drops to the under 5-year children in the above-mentioned UC in the coming six days and according to DrJokhio around 3,200 children will be vaccinated during the seven-day campaign.
It is pertinent to note here that the UC I-11 is the area where poliovirus was detected in the past from a drainage sample and in the same locality displaced people from Afghanistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have established their temporary settlements.
In his address to the polio workers and support staff, DrIrshadJokhio highlighted the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and assured them complete support in performance of their duties with dedication and resolve. On the first day (Monday) 751 children were vaccinated which was close to the target (773) on day-1.
The fact that most of the Pakhtun communities and travellers from the KP and the adjoining areas of Afghanistan arrive in these areas moreover, an Afghan Refugee Centre is also there has further highlighted the significance of the drive.
