Web Desk:
A five-day anti-polio campaign concluded in 10 union councils of Quetta on Friday evening. Children under the age of five years were administered polio drops during the anti-polio drive.
The Emergency Operation Cell (EOC) established to battle the crippling virus had launched the campaign in collaboration with the government of Balochistan, UNICEF and World Health Organization (WHO) in 10 UCs of the city. A target of 110, 000 children were set by the government and EOC to provide polio drops. It could not be immediately confirmed that how many children were provided polio drops during the five-day campaign.
“Environmental samples collected from various parts of Quetta indicate the presence of poliovirus”, Rashid Razzaq, the Chief of EOC stated earlier in a statement. During the campaign, polio volunteers visited various parts of Quetta including Kharotabad, Pashtoonabad where the environmental samples indicated the presence of the crippling virus to provide polio drops to the children under the age of five years.
In the aftermath of novel coronavirus, the polio campaign was halted for almost more than four months and now increasing cases of poliovirus appear to be a major challenge for the government.
However, some parents faced difficulties in getting polio drops for their children in Quetta’s Children Hospital. “No polio drop available”, Muhammad Sadiq, a parent complained at CHQ hospital. He said the volunteers told him “drops finished after 12 in the afternoon”.
We also dialed 1166 helpline to get information about the availability of polio drops in another center, we could not get a satisfactory response, Niamaullah, another parent told the daily Quetta Voice. He however said his child was provided polio drops on Friday at CHQ.
Balochistan has so far reported 15 cases of the crippling virus this year. Most of the cases have been confirmed in Quetta, Pishin and Killa Abdullah districts of Balochistan.
