RAWALPINDI: The first anti-polio drive of the year will start from Monday (today) to vaccinate more than one million children less than five years of age in the district.

National Immunisation Drive against polio in Rawalpindi district will be a seven-day campaign including two days allocated for catch up to reach the missed children.

A total of 1.57 million under-five children will be reached for vaccination during the campaign in the district in an effort to save children from disability. Despite significant progress, the threat of poliovirus importation from regions still affected by the disease remains a major concern.

Over 4,210 polio teams go door-to-door to administer polio drops to children below five years of age. Approximately, 270 supervisors will also perform their duties in 212 union councils of Rawalpindi, while partner staff from WHO and Unicef will also supervise.

With 16 districts infected, Punjab faces significant risks of poliovirus transmission, particularly from regions where the virus remains endemic.

In a statement, Head of the Punjab Polio Programme Adeel Tassawar emphasised the urgency of the campaign, citing genetic sequencing data that confirms the circulation of both local and imported poliovirus in the province.

“The presence of poliovirus in environmental samples underscores the need for heightened vigilance, swift responses, and a collective effort to eliminate this disease from Pakistan,” he stated.

Deputy Commissioner Dr. Hassan Waqar Cheema said that the district administration is determined to make the region polio free. As the first NID of 2025 commences, we will ensure the success of the campaign.

He said that people had been requested to ensure their children are vaccinated because it will save their children from disability and ensure a bright future the country.

He said that District Health Authority will give top priority to eradication of polio, review the anti-polio campaign and ensure that the policy given by the World Health Organization WHO is ensured.

District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer, Asif Arbab Niazi, said that we are trying to meet the target of administering anti-polio drops to more than one million children.

He further said that we appeal to people to cooperate with our teams and make sure that children are vaccinated, so that Pakistan can be free from this deadly disease.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2025