Staff Reporter
Peshawar
Deputy Commissioner, Amjad Shuaib Tareen urged religious scholars to sensitize parents about anti polio drive for eradication of crippling disease. Speaking at a meeting in connection with polio campaign at his office here on Thursday, he underlined the need of creating awareness among masses. The DC stated that Ulema should come forward to safeguard kids from developing the disease by get them vaccinated.
Earlier briefing the DC, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) said that the drive will commence from August 15 wherein over 900,000 kids up-to five would be vaccinated. He informed that 1875 teams had been constituted for this purpose whereas 4,268 workers will participate in the campaign. Dr Saeed Baig, Dr Zaka, Dr Jawwad and others attended the meeting.
The polio eradication campaign will be launched, August 15 in Punjab and Sindh, and August 17 in Balochistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The campaign will be conducted following the successful resumption of polio activities in July 2020 after a four-month suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To build immunity amongst susceptible children, vaccinators will go door-to-door during this campaign to administer the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) to children under the age of five, as well as Vitamin A supplements to children who are between 6-59 months of age. “It is imperative that Pakistan continues its fight against polio with an already accessible, safe and widely used vaccine that has saved countless children from polio worldwide. I am hopeful that parents will continue to realize the importance of vaccinating their children during this campaign in August and help our nation ultimately end the threat of polio,” said Dr Faisal Sultan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services.
As with the last campaign held in July, polio vaccinators will continue to adhere to stringent operating procedures while vaccinating children in order to protect themselves and families from COVID-19. Vaccinators have been trained ahead of the campaign to undertake prevention measures, including keeping a safe distance from children and families while administering drops and ensuring that parents themselves hold their children.
In addition, the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme has provided vaccinators with face masks and hand sanitizers for additional protection. According to Dr Rana Safdar, Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) of the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, the campaign in August would help Pakistan tackle increased virus transmission within hotspots of virus circulation across the nation.
To ensure protection to teams of polio workers assigned for delivery of polio drops to 210730 children in Kohat district, Section 144 has been imposed from Thursday till further order in the district Under the section display of weapons, tinted glasses of vehicles and pillion riding have been banned, Spokesman for Kohat police informed media through a press release.
