Anti Polio Campaigns to Launch in Balochistan

In 15 districts of Balochistan, a five-day anti-polio campaign will be launched on January 24 Monday. During which 1.5 million children under the age of five years will be vaccinated.

During a press conference on Friday. Quetta’s Commissioner M. Sohail-Ur-Rehman Baloch said that all agreements had been made for the establishment of the anti-polio campaign in the areas where denial cases had been reported during the prior campaigns.

The districts that have been chosen for launching the anti-polio campaign include Quetta, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Chaman, Jaffarabad, Nasirabad, Loralai, Khuzdar, Qila Saifullah, Daki, Mastung, Sherani, Zhob, Chagai, Tehsils Hub and Gadani of Lasbela district, the Commissioner said.

The Commissioner exclaimed, “It is a great success that during last one year no new case of polio was reported from any part of the province as every district has been covered during anti-polio campaigns.” He also added that Quetta, Pishin, Chaman and Qila Abdullah were high-risk districts in the past. He added that but “we have not ignored these areas”.

Mr Sohail also added that the refusal cases had fallen to 6,000 from 30,000 in the province. It has happened by embracing an adequate strategy and support of media and schools. He instructed the parents to collaborate with the polio staff and get their children vaccinated.

The Coordinator of Balochistan Polio Emergency Operation Centre Hameedullah Nasar, Deputy Commissioner of Quetta Irfan Memon and Dr Aftab Ahmed also participated in the press conference.