QUETTA: A rescheduled three-day polio vaccination campaign faced yet another snag and could not begin in some parts of Quetta on Tuesday because of inadequate security arrangements.

The campaign in other districts of Balochistan was said to be going on under tight security.

“The campaign did not start in some parts of Quetta due to lack of security arrangements,” an official of the health department told this correspondent. He said the campaign was being carried out amid tight security in most areas of the city.

Take a look: Polio campaign postponed in Quetta due to 'inadequate security'

The second phase of the campaign to cover the remaining union councils of Quetta would be carried out on April 6-8, he said.

“Over half a million children under the age of five would be administered polio drops in Quetta,” an official of the Emergency Operation Cell (EOC) said.

Around 483,000 children will be administered vaccine in 18 union councils of Quetta. Over 980 mobile teams, 94 fixed site teams, 59 transit sites, 35 officials in charge of union councils and 181 of areas are taking part in the campaign.

The case response campaign was started in eight districts.

The drive was postponed in Loralai district because a search operation was under way there.

However, it was launched in Musakhail, Harnai, Sherani, Zhob, Ziarat, Barkhan, Kholu and Qila Saifullah.

Three cases of poliovirus have been confirmed in Balochistan this year.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2015

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