QUETTA: Amid tight security, the first anti-polio drive of the year would be launched in Quetta and other districts of Balochistan on Monday (tomorrow).

During the campaign 2.4 million children below the age of five years would be administered polio drops. This was stated by Dr Syed Saif Ur Rehman, Coordinator Emergency Operation Cell (EOC) while addressing a press conference in Quetta.

More than 55,000 children of Afghan refugees would also be administered polio drops during the campaign.

The EOC in collaboration with health department and other partners have established 786 fixed sites and 321 transit points to ensure provision of polio drops to children.

A total of seven polio cases were reported from Balochistan during the year 2015. Five out of seven cases were reported from Quetta as result of refusals on the part of parents.

Related: Govt claims 91pc drop in polio refusal cases in Balochistan

The EOC Balochistan recently said refusals had declined over 91 per cent in the province during the recent anti-polio campaign after the health department formed committees to convince parents.

An EOC official claimed parents of 12,607 children below the age of five years were convinced by polio volunteers, religious scholars and officials to administer polio drops to these kids.

Also Read: Balochistan govt to make refusal against polio vaccine 'a crime'