The anti-polio campaign in 13 districts of Punjab will start from March 13.The campaign will last for seven days in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad and for five days in Bahawalpur, Bhakkar, DG Khan, Layyah, Mianwali, Multan, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Sheikhupura and Sialkot. As many as 11.35 million children up to the age of five years will be immunized against polio during the drive, said Dr Jamal Nasir, Minister primary and secondary healthcare.
The minister PSHD, Dr Jamal Nasir and Chief Secretary Punjab Zahid Akhtar reviewed the arrangements for the campaign at a meeting in the Civil Secretariat here on Friday. Dr. Jamal Nasir, all divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners participated in the meeting through video link. The Secretary Specialized Healthcare, Secretary Primary Healthcare, officials of the health department, besides representatives of international organizations working for polio eradication were also present at the occasion.
The health minister appealed to the parents to get their children of 5 years age vaccinated at all cost to save their future. Vaccination is the only solution of protection from polio, he added. The Chief Secretary directed that the anti-polio campaign be made a success. He mentioned that for the complete elimination of polio, it is very important to continue the collective efforts against the virus. He added that the DCs should pay special attention to the quality and coverage of the anti-polio drive.The Secretary Primary Healthcare informed the meeting that more than 90,000 polio workers would perform duties in the anti-polio campaign.
