RAWALPINDI: The polio vaccination campaign began in the city on Wednesday, on Sub National Immunisation Day.

Chairing a meeting to review the campaign at the commissioner’s office, the adviser to the Punjab chief minister, Khawaja Salman Rafique, said the campaign will target 811,708 children below the age of five in 192 union councils in Rawalpindi city.

He said the government is committed to eradicating the poliovirus form the country, particularly in Punjab, and all the necessary resources would be utilised in this regard.

He said the government would not tolerate any negligence, and added that citizens should help the government eradicate the virus and raise awareness.

Primary and Secondary Healthcare provincial secretary Ali Jan Khan said a total 2,330 teams are performing their duties, including 1,946 mobile teams, 109 transit teams and 275 fixed teams.

“Special efforts are being made to map and register people coming to the city from polio endemic areas,” Director General Health Dr Mukhtar Hussein Syed said.

He said parents could also take their children to vaccination centres, where staff members are available to vaccinate for nine preventable diseases. He said if teams have not visited an area, parents can contact the relevant helpline (0800 99000) during the vaccination campaign period.

District Coordination Officer Talat Mehmood Gondal said all the available resources have been made available to polio vaccination teams, and would enable them to perform their duties efficiently.

He said arrangements have been made for security for polio vaccination staff, and added that parents should ensure that their children are administered the polio vaccine.

Executive District Officer Health Dr Arshad Sabir informed the meeting that polio vaccination teams have been equipped with all the necessary facilities.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2016