QUETTA: A five-day polio vaccination campaign will be launched in 16 districts of Balochistan from Monday (today).

During the campaign, more than 1.6 million children will be administered polio drops. Talking to Dawn on Sunday, Coordinator of Emergency Operation Centre of Balochistan Rashid Razzaq said that all preparations had been made for the anti-polio campaign.

He said that 7,192 teams would be deployed to vaccinate children across the areas targeted for the purpose. At least 6,006 mobile teams, 444 fixed points and 370 transit points have been set up in 16 districts. “Security arrangements for the campaign have also been finalised and members of Balochistan Frontier Corps, police and Levies Force would provide security to the polio staff,” Mr Razzaq said, adding that religious scholars were also taking part in the drive to persuade people to get their children administered polio drops on religious grounds.

The 16 districts where the drive will be launched are: Quetta, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Barkhan, Dera Bugti, Dukki, Jaffarabad, Khuzdar, Qila Saifullah, Loralai, Mastung, Musakhail, Nasirabad, Sherani, Sobatour and Zhob. Mr Razzaq urged parents to administer their children polio drops.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd , 2021