LARKANA, April 1: Larkana has been declared a ‘polio-free district’ and to maintain the status an estimated 316,850 children under the age of five years will have to be covered.

This was stated by executive district officer of health (EDO) Dr Abdul Fateh Bughio at a meeting of the provincial Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) and the Polio Eradication Committee (PEC) held here on Monday.

The meeting, presided over by Larkana Deputy Commissioner Asadullah Abro, was attended by WHO representative Dr Masood Qureshi, Unicef representative Dr Abdul Sattar Shaikh, Dr Khalilullah Shaikh, Dr Mohammad Panah Shaikh, Dr Rajib Ali Sheikh, Larkana Chamber of Commerce and Industries President Hafiz Mohammad Suleman Shaikh and the Chandka Medical College Hospital medical superintendent as well as officials of various relevant departments and representatives of non-governmental organisations.

EDO Bughio told the meeting that a total of 707 teams had been formed to administer polio drops to children in four vaccination zones covering 46 union councils of the district during a three-day campaign starting on April 15. To facilitate the campaign, 72 fixed immunisation centres had been established, he added.

He informed the meeting that 36 transit polio teams had also been constituted and its members would remain present at the railway station, bus stops and market places across the district during the campaign.

Representative of the police department at the meeting held out the assurance that adequate security would be provided to the field staff and mobile teams taking part in the anti-polio drive.

The meeting was also informed that an anti-polio awareness walk would be held from the old DHO office to the local press club on April 12 at 9am.

DC Abro appreciated the measures taken to ensure success of the polio drive, and called upon officers of the health department, public representatives, religious scholars and NGOs to play their due role in ensuring a full coverage during the upcoming round.

He told health officials to make sure that the mobile teams reached the remote and katcha areas of the district and that no deserving child was left out in the campaign.

The deputy commissioner said that all anti-polio teams would be provided with transport facility as well as the support required for maintaining the cold chain.

He said collective efforts were needed for the success of the campaign, adding that all the departments concerned should ensure proper coordination and cooperation in this regard.

Mr Abro said that the district administration and the health department were working with a team spirit to achieve the desired results.

He said all citizens should realise their responsibilities towards the noble cause and cooperate with the polio teams.—APP