Stalled polio campaign to kick off from tomorrow in Balochistan
Health Desk :
QUETTA: The stalled anti-polio campaign will kick off from Sunday (tomorrow) across Balochistan. During the five-day campaign, over 2.4 million children under the age of five years would be provided polio drops, Rashid Razzaq, the Chief of Emergency Operation Cell (EOC) said.
The Grand Employees Alliance (GEA) protest caused three times the postponement of the anti-polio campaign in the province. The employees called off their strike on the directives of the Balochistan High Court (BHC) on Saturday.
10,000 teams established
“10,000 teams formed to make sure provision of drops to children”, Rashid Razzaq stated. Countrywide anti-polio campaign conducted on March 29 this year.
Mobile teams formed, polio volunteers would be deployed at fixed spots, bus stops, railway stations, airports, and other public places, the EOC Chief mentioned.
Quetta, Pishin, and Killa Abdullah districts prone to the crippling virus
In Balochistan’s Quetta, Killa Abdullah, and Pishin districts, thousands of parents have been refusing polio drops to their children. The three districts declared as the most sensitive districts in terms of the crippling virus.
The virus exists despite repeated campaigns
Despite repeated campaigns, the virus is yet to be eradicated. Health department sources revealed the number of chronic refusals in Killa Abdullah, Pishin, and Quetta is in the thousands. The government in collaboration with UNICEF has formed committees comprising veteran religious scholars to convince the parents to ensure the provision of polio drops to kids.
Balochistan reported 26 cases of poliovirus during 2020
Balochistan reported 26 cases of the poliovirus during 2020. Most of the cases reported from the Quetta, Killa Abdullah, and Pishin districts of Balochistan.
During the current year, Balochistan has so far reported one polio case. The case reported from Balochistan’s Killa Abdullah district. The government has decided to launch this campaign on Sunday to make sure its completion prior to the holy month of Ramazan ul Mubarak.
