Punjab has reported four positive environmental samples in November, two from Lahore and two from Rawalpindi.
Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Coordinator Adeel Tasawur shared updates while chairing a review meeting ahead of the upcoming National Immunisation Days (NIDs) starting Monday, December 15.
Calling the development “a crucial milestone,” he applauded the collective effort of district administrations, frontline polio workers and partner agencies.
“In January this year, we had 14 positive samples. In October, we had 12. Today, we stand at only four positive samples. This is a big improvement and a testament to your hard work and consistency,” stated the EOC Coordinator.
“These are early positive signs. If we sustain this momentum, the whole of Punjab can turn green. This has only been possible due to back-to-back campaigns and your dedication,” he added.
Mr Tasawur emphasised the timely completion of all training and the submission of readiness reports to the EOC. He urged districts to intensify focus on pre-campaign and intra-campaign indicators, strengthen supervisory tiers, and continuously build team capacity to improve campaign quality.
He reminded districts that environmental sample results are the “final report card” of campaign performance. “If everything appears in order but environmental samples remain positive, it means our performance is still lacking,” he noted.
He instructed district teams to prioritise low-performing union councils, strengthen accountability of UC in-charges, and ensure they actively monitor field performance.
The fifth and final National Immunisation Days of 2025 will begin on December 15 across Punjab. As the province’s highest-risk district, Lahore will conduct a seven-day campaign, while other districts will undertake a four-day drive.
More than 200,000 polio workers and supervisors will take part in the campaign to protect over 17 million children under five. This workforce includes 16,605 area in-charges, 3,991 union council medical officers, over 84,884 mobile team members, 4,884 fixed team members and more than 2,664 transit team members, all working together to ensure every eligible child receives the oral polio vaccine.
The Punjab Emergency Operations Centre has also deployed technical experts across priority districts to support the smooth and effective implementation of the campaign.
