LARKANA, Dec 17: The ninth round of this year’s anti-polio campaign kicked off in all districts of Sindh to cover over 4.4 million children up to five years of age within three days.

Dr Khalid Hussain Shaikh, the OSD in the health department linked with the drive, told Dawn that a total of 4,433,680 children would be administered anti-polio drops during the massive campaign for which 10,924 mobile, 1,144 fixed and 1,046 transit teams had been formed. He said that 2,504 area heads were closely monitoring the drive while 720 medical officers, supported by a fleet of 2,504 motorcycles and 720 four-wheelers, were mobilised for the gigantic task.

In Larkana district, over 300,000 children are to be administered anti-polio drops. District Health Officer Dr Abdul Fatah Bughio said that 46 medical officers were supervising the campaign in 46 union councils of the district. On the first day of the campaign, he said, 91,748 children were given the vaccine.

Dec 20 would be a catch-up day to cover the left out children, he added.

HYDERABAD: Deputy Commissioner Agha Shahnawaz Babar inauguration the anti-polio drive in this district at a camp set up within Abdullah Sports Tower on Monday.

Speaking at the ceremony, he appealed to parents and guardians of under-five children to cooperate with the teams administering anti-polio vaccine.

He also urged NGOs, representatives of civil society organisations and others to cooperate with the teams to help end eliminate polio from society.

He said that action would be taken against those officials of the health department who did not perform their assigned duties.

SUKKUR: Anti-polio campaign was launched on Monday in all small and big towns and villages of Sukkur, Ghotki and Jacobabad districts.

Sukkur Deputy Commissioner Bilal Ahmed Memon, Additional Deputy Commissioner Mubeen Ellahi and District Health Officer Jai Ram monitored the process and performance of the field teams.

They directed the supervisors of the teams to ensure visiting every nook and corner of both rural and urban areas for administering polio drops to children up to five years of age.

Anti-polio teams visited different areas of Sukkur city and its adjoining areas, including Bashirabad, Qureshi Goth, Thermal area, Local Board, Jannat Building, Ali Wahan, Saleh Pat and Kandhra.

Ghotki Deputy Commissioner Mirza Nasir Ali monitored administering of polio drops to children under five years of age at the district headquarters hospitals of Mirpur Mathelo, Taluka Hospital Ghotki, Hussain Belly and Mathelo Momal-Ji-Mari.

He directed the officials concerned to ensure that no child remained without polio drops and urged them to achieve the earmarked target. He warned of stern action against those officials who were found absent during the three-day campaign. He appealed to people to extend their cooperation in order to achieve the desired results.

Jacobabad Deputy Commissioner Rafique Ahmed Burirro monitored performance of anti-polio teams in various areas of the district. He directed officials of the health department, including District Health Officer Deedar Jamali, to keep focus on the rain-hit areas during the drive.

He said the target set for administering polio drops should be achieved with sincere efforts.