TAXILA: Punjab Polio Programme In-charge Sundas Irshad along with a representative from World Health Organisation (WHO) and the federal coordinator for polio visited different parts of Hazro on Wednesday, to review progress of the anti-polio campaign, which was launched after a case of vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (VDPV2) was detected in the area.

The officials monitored workers, who were busy in administering anti-polio drops to children under the age of five. The health department has constituted 788 teams in 14 different union councils (UCs) of the town to administer anti-polio drops.

During field monitoring, the officials interviewed polio teams, general public and expressed their satisfaction towards the campaign. Ms Irshad advised all team members to remain in touch with assistant commissioners and police. She ensured that refusals would be addressed, without lapse.

“Anti-polio campaigns have been resumed in selective districts of Punjab where polio cases were reported recently, as the campaign remained suspended for four months due to Covid-19. Keeping in view WHO‘s guidelines about the the virus, the scope of polio campaigns will be expanded in August. Resumption of campaigns will play a major role in stopping transmission of polio,” she added.

District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Sohail Ijaz said that areas in Hazro including, Khagwane, Jatial, Shadi Khan and Nortopa were being focused on because of reported refusals.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2020