RAWALPINDI: A four-day polio vaccination campaign will begin on Nov 30 in order to administer polio drops to 885,000 children across the district.

Addressing a meeting to review arrangements in this regard, Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Anwarul Haq said that the training of polio workers should be completed and asked all assistant commissioners to personally supervise it.

He said every union council will make a macro-plan of the campaign, adding, environmental samples have been tested and it must be ensured that no child below the age of five is left.

Strict action should be taken against those who refuse to let workers administer polio drops to their children as the ones who do not get vaccinated are at a greater risk of contracting the virus, he said, adding the polio vaccine is completely safe and effective and has been endorsed by international organisations.

Participants of the meeting were informed that the target of the campaign in Rawalpindi, is to immunise 885,000 children under the age of five against poliovirus and their performance will be scrutinised. They were also told that the health department will form 2,504 mobile teams to visit each house in union councils of the district.

Health officials said drops will be administered at more than 118 transit points so that children coming from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other areas are vaccinated before entering the district.

The deputy commissioner directed Chief Executive Officer (Health) Dr Suhail Ahmed to overcome the shortage of staff and asked the health department to provide a detailed list of existing staff members in the next two days so that volunteers and manpower from other departments could be included in it.

In this regard, the department has sought help from the education, agricultural and auqaf departments besides asking hospitals and volunteers to take the campaign forward as staff members of the health department are busy in anti-dengue drives.

The district health department has made all arrangements for the four-day campaign.

Mr Haq urged the health department to vaccinate children and directed government officials to work for the national cause of saving children.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2020