RAWALPINDI: Over 800,000 children were vaccinated during the week-long anti-polio drive that ended in Rawalpindi district on Sunday, health officials said.

On the first day of the campaign, the anti-polio drive was suspended in three tehsils of Rawalpindi district, including Gujar Khan, Kahuta and Kallar Syedan, due to a boycott by vaccinators against the Punjab government’s plan to outsource public hospitals.

The district health authority made arrangements and got 1,500 personnel from the education department, 1,200 from a nursing college and 300 from the revenue department. However, in the last six days, there was no hurdle in the drive.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema said that the government departments are working together to make the anti-polio campaign a success.

Children deprived of vaccination can be vaccinated at the nearest health centre, he said. He added that a suitable season for the growth of the polio virus has begun. The official noted that the goal was to increase the immunity of children before the high season.

The deputy commissioner said that the growth of the virus can be stopped by vaccination. He said that the eradication of polio is not just a government campaign but a national responsibility. “Every child is our future, and it is up to all of us to play our role to keep our children safe from polio. Parents should fully cooperate with the teams and definitely vaccinate their children,” he said.

He further said that the positive image of our country will emerge in the world only when we raise a healthy generation. Eradication of diseases like polio will be a milestone in Pakistan’s journey of development, he said.

He said that the district administration is using all possible resources to completely eradicate polio and that public cooperation is key to the success of this campaign.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2025