QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti expressed serious concerns over the recent rise in polio cases in the province and ordered the authorities develop a comprehensive roadmap within the next 10 days to make Balochistan polio-free.

During a review meeting focused on the increasing polio cases and the ongoing vaccination campaign, the chief minister emphasised the urgent need to prioritise these issues to protect children from this crippling disease.

“As many as 21 out of 45 reported cases are from Balochistan, which is alarming and requires concrete measures for the eradication of the poliovirus in the province,” he said.

CM Bugti directed officials to enhance the outreach of routine immunisation from 38 per cent to 60pc to ensure that more children are vaccinated.

He called for the full mobilisation of the health department’s workforce, including around 6,000 lady health visitors and lady health workers, to support the polio vacccination campaign.

He also stressed the importance of completing the National Electronic Immunisation Registry across all 36 districts of the province. He ordered the commissioners to assist the health department in finalising this digital app, which will use GPS to access every child.

The chief minister said work has begun on implementing an impartial monitoring system to oversee the anti-polio campaign, and all necessary steps must be taken to ensure its success. He warned that no leniency would be tolerated during the campaign, and the health department would provide all required resources to achieve the goal.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2024