Anti-polio campaign kicks off in Balochistan
Manan Mandokhail, Sardar Muhammad Khondai:
QUETTA: Amid tight security, the anti-polio campaign was launched in Balochistan on Monday. Thousands of polio volunteers provided anti-polio drops to children under the age of five years across the province.
“Polio drops to be provided to over 2.5 million children”, Hamidullah Nasar, the Chief of Emergency Operation Cell (EOC) Balochistan said. Political figures, senior administration officials, and religious scholars launched the campaign while providing polio drops to children.
A week-long campaign would continue in Quetta, Pishin, Killa Abdullah, Chaman, Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, Mastung, Khuzdar, Dukki, Kalat, Gwadar, and other parts of Balochistan, Mr. Nasar stated.
9,470 mobile established across the province
The health department in collaboration with EOC established 9,470 mobile, 949 fixed and 552 transit teams are participating in the campaign.
Police, levies and frontier corps (FC) personnel provided security to the health workers and polio volunteers to make the campaign a success. “We would ensure providing polio drop to each kid”, Mr. Nasar stated. He urged parents to cooperate with polio volunteers and provide polio drops to children under the age of five years.
In Chaman, the Deputy Commissioner Captain (R) Jumadad Mandokhail administered polio drops to children while launching the campaign formally. Senior health officials were also present on the occasion.
During 2021, one polio case reported from Kill Abdullah
So far, one polio case from Balochistan’s Killa Abdullah district has been reported during the current year. The world has eradicated the crippling virus. However, Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries still battling the virus.
Quetta, Pishin, Killa Abdullah, and Chaman districts are considered to be sensitive regarding the crippling virus. This is called Quetta block. In Quetta block, the campaign would be underway for seven days, whereas in the rest of the province it would be underway for five days.
Journalist Ayub Bhutto also contributed to this report
