RAWALPINDI, Nov 24: The anti-polio campaign, which could not be launched due to the Ashura violence and curfew in Rawalpindi last week, will start in the twin cities on Monday.

The district health department Rawalpindi had completed the campaign in Murree, Gujar Khan, Taxila, Kotli Sattian, Kalar Syedan and Kahuta.

“After the curfew, it was not possible for the health department to start the anti-polio campaign in the city areas,” said Executive District Officer Health Dr Zafar Iqbal Gondal.

He said 675 teams had been formed for the anti-polio vaccination.

“Due to the effective campaign, no polio virus was found during the environment sampling in the city in October,” he said and added that the campaign would continue in the 12 sensitive union councils.

It may be mentioned that a polio virus was found in the sewerage of Rawalpindi for the third consecutive month in September.

WHO had expressed resentment over the presence of the polio virus in the city and asked the district administration to do more to save over 700,000 children from the crippling disease.

District Health Officer Islamabad Dr Mohammad Azhar Khan said over 120,000 children, under the age of five years, would be vaccinated during the three-day campaign and a catch-up activity would be carried out on the fourth day.

“As many as 327 house-to-house teams, 27 transit points and 31 fixed points have been established for the vaccination,” he said.

A polio free status has been given to Islamabad as not a single case has been recorded in the federal capital science 2008.

Even in 2008, the child who had polio belonged to Mansehra, he said.

Dr Khan said the police had assured the department security for the volunteers.

At least one official will be moving along with the polio team and in sensitive areas the number will be doubled, he said.

It may be noted that in July 2012, in the Johda village of Golra a man not only refused to get his children vaccinated but also broke the nose of a volunteer.

In December 2012, a 21-year-old polio team worker was threatened by an unidentified man in the Jhangi Syedan village in the jurisdiction of the Tarnol police.