TAXILA: Over 300,000 children up to the age of five years will be administered anti-polio drops across Attock district during a five-day campaign that starts from Monday (today).

Deputy Commissioner Dr Waqar Hassan Cheema formally inaugurated the drive by administering polio drops to a child at District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital on Sunday.

Chief Executive Officer (Health) Dr Jawad Elahi, assistant commissioners, DDHOs of six tehsils, vaccination superintendent, in-charge polio control room and representatives from the World Health Organisation (WHO) were also present.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Cheema urged officials of the health department that they must ensure that polio drops were administered to all children from the ages of one to five and parents must cooperate with teams to make the campaign a success.

He said 90 medical officers and 233 area in-charges will supervise this campaign, adding that vitamin A drops would also be administered to the children. He said 1,602 teams had been constituted which will be present at all entry and exit points of the city, bus stands, railway stations, hospitals and health centres.

He further revealed that 1,436 mobile, 136 fixed teams and 40 transit teams had been constituted.

Dr Cheema said a control room had also been established and adequate security measures were adopted by the government to protect polio workers who would visit door-to-door to achieve their target. He said a large number of well-equipped officials were deployed with different teams.

The deputy commissioner urged parents and the public to cooperate with the administration to make this campaign a success.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2022