MIRPUR, July 18: A three-day polio immunisation campaign was launched in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday to save children from the crippling disease. Mobile teams of paramedical staff will visit door to door from Tuesday through Thursday to administer polio drops to children under five.

According to official sources, about 5.64 lakh children ageing up to five years would be immunised with anti-polio vaccine during the drive across Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The countrywide drive would continue till March 9.

State Health Department sources told APP on Tuesday that a total of 2,179 mobile paramedical teams were formed while 327 fixed units and 117 transit points at public places like bus stands were set up in all eight districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir to administer the drops during the three-day drive. They said the State Health Department had arranged 6.67 lakh anti-polio vaccine doses for the campaign across Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The fixed centres, the sources said, had been set up at hospitals, basic health units, rural health centres and various other spots to vaccinate the children.

Eighty-four supervisors would monitor the campaign being conducted by 208 in-charges of different areas in AJK, the sources said, adding that the total number of staff involved in the whole exercise was over 4,000.—APP