Over one million under-five children to be vaccinated against polio in three districts
In Larkana, the anti-polio drive in Larkana district was kicked off on 16 December 2024 to vaccinate 480,000 children of up to five years of age.
The health department has formed 1,089 mobile and 86 transit teams for the district with the task of going door-to-door and also visiting bus stops, railway stations, and other public points to administer polio drops to the targeted children.
Larkana Deputy Commissioner Sharjeel Noor Channa and SSP Dr Mir Rohal Khan Khoso visited a vaccination centre set up at the Govt dispensary in Nazar mohalla and supervised the campaign. They received a briefing from the staff busy in discharging the duty.
They asked the staff to ensure reaching even the remotest area of their area of operation to ensure vaccinating children against the crippling disease.
Stringent security measures were taken across the district to ensure the safety of the anti-polio team. Around 1,300 police officers and personnel have been deputed to protect the teams in the district. Police patrolling has been increased while DSPs and SHOs have been directed to remain on roads and in streets to supervise the security operation.
The seven-day anti-polio drive was also launched in Dadu and Jamshoro district.
Dadu DC Mukhtiar Ali Abro, along with Johi MPA Syed Saleh Shah Jilani and District Health Officer Syed Imdad Ali initiated the campaign by vaccinating some children at the Phuka Basic Health Unit.
They interacted with members of anti-polio teams and issued necessary directives to ensure the success of the campaign.
A total of 407,723 under-five children will be vaccinated against polio in this district, DC Abro said.
The district health officials have formed 1,085 teams for the purpose. The teams are headed by 280 area in-charges and 112 team supervisors.
To ensure safety and security of the teams, 1,473 police officers and personnel have been deployed.
The DC appealed to parents to get their under-five children vaccinated as a national duty and in the interest of their own offspring.
Parents have been requested to ensure that their children receive the polio drops without fail. He also urged citizens to cooperate with the visiting teams and assist them in making the campaign a success.
In Jamshoro district also, foolproof security has been ensured for anti-polio workers.
Deputy Commissioner Ghazanfar Ali Qadri and SSP Zafar Siddique initiated the drive at the District Headquarters Hospital in Kotri.
The SSP told the media that all senior police officers had been assigned the responsibility of ensuring the security of the vaccination teams within their respective jurisdiction. Over 800 police officers and personnel have been deployed for the purpose across the district.
The district heath officials have formed 801 polio teams to undertake the job.
Published in Dawn on 17 December 2024.