Over 2 million children provided polio drops in Balochistan
Health Desk :
Over 2 million children provided anti-polio drops during the campaign in all districts of Balochistan. Sources in the health department said polio drops provided to over 2 million children below the age of five years in all 33 districts of the province.
Polio campaign ended in 30 districts on Wednesday
“Polio campaign ended in 30 districts on Wednesday”, the official informed. He however mentioned that the anti polio campaign is still underway in Quetta, Killa Abdullah and Pishin districts of Balochistan. “These are sensitive districts in terms of poliovirus”, he noted.
Stalled polio campaign started in Balochistan on April 11 after the government employees called off their agitation. The provincial government postponed the campaign for three times.
“Parents are cooperative and providing drops to their children”, he mentioned. He said despite the sacred month of Ramazan ul Mubarak, people were keen to provide polio drops to their children.
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. Major reason behind existence of the crippling virus is chronic refusals by some parents. Health department has also formed committees comprising religious scholars, teachers, tribal elites to convince the parents refusing polio drops. The committees have succeeded in convincing some parents, a sources in the World Health Organization (WHO) claimed. He requested anonymity.
Over 2 million children provided polio drops in Balochistan
