The anti-polio campaign would start in 14 districts of Punjab from October 24.
The drive would continue for seven days in the high-risk districts – Lahore, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad – while it would conclude after five days in the other 11 districts – Mianwali, Khushab, Sialkot, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Layya, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.
The special campaign for polio eradication was aimed at vaccinating as many as 11.18 million children upto the age of five years, with deployment of more than 97,000 polio workers.
To review the arrangements in connection with the campaign, a meeting of the Provincial Task force for Polio Eradication was held at the Civil Secretariat on Wednesday.
Chief Secretary Punjab Abdullah Khan Sumbal, Secretary Health Dr Irshad Ahmad and representatives of international organizations working for polio eradication attended the meeting while Provincial Health Minister Dr. Akhtar Malik and deputy commissioners of the respective districts participated through video link.
Speaking on the occasion, Provincial Health Minister Akhtar Malik said that the country would be made polio-free for the health and safe future of children.
He said that special arrangements must be made for the anti-polio campaign in flood-affected areas.
Chief Secretary Abdullah Khan Sumbal directed that the special campaign to eradicate polio be made a success.
He asked the deputy commissioners to personally monitor the anti-polio drive in the districts.
He said that everyone needed to continue working with national spirit for the complete eradication of polio.
He also appreciated the cooperation of international organizations in efforts to eradicate polio.
