RAWALPINDI: An anti-polio campaign will be launched in the district from Sept 1 to 4, during which children up to five years of age will be administered polio vaccination drops across the district.
It was informed in the meeting held at the deputy commissioner’s office Rawalpindi, chaired by MNA Tahira Aurangzeb and Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema. Officials from the health, education departments, World Health Organisation (WHO), and all relevant departments participated in the meeting.
It was informed that a target of vaccinating more than 800,000 children has been set for this campaign in Rawalpindi district, for which teams will go door-to-door to perform their duties.
Briefing the meeting, the health officials stated that due to outstanding performance in the anti-polio drive, two districts of Punjab, including Rawalpindi, have been shifted from the red zone to the yellow zone, which is a matter of pride for the district.
Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema said that Rawalpindi has the largest population of migrant settlers, which is why cases of polio, dengue, and other diseases are reported here.
However, he said that due to the efforts of the administration, the number of cases has remained very low. He instructed that measures at the micro-level should be further strengthened, and strict action will be taken against any officials or staff found negligent or careless, as no leniency will be tolerated.
MNA Tahira Aurangzeb emphasised that special focus should be given to those union councils of Rawalpindi where a large number of migrants from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other adjoining areas reside, ensuring that not a single child is left without receiving polio drops.
Furthermore, the meeting also reviewed the dengue situation in detail. The district coordinator for dengue briefed the meeting, after which the deputy commissioner stressed that all departments must perform their responsibilities with full dedication, and immediate action should be taken against underperforming staff.
Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2025
