Punjab set to launch anti-polio drive today

LAHORE:The Punjab province is all set to roll out sixth special polio eradication campaign of the year from Monday (today) to block intensified risk of polio virus’ local transmission in the province.

The campaign will be held in five districts, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, Lodhran and Muzaffargarh, immunising over 4.5 million children. Announcing the campaign, the Punjab Emergency Operation Centre Coordinator, and head of the polio programme in Punjab Mr Khizer Afzaal confirmed that campaign was being held to disallow polio virus free space to spread. He elaborated that over 32,000 polio workers would participate in the campaign, which would continue for seven days in Lahore and Rawalpindi. While in other districts the campaign will last five days, he added. Spelling out Punjab’s challenges, Mr Afzal outlined that Punjab was striving to prevent local transmission of polio virus caused by the movement of high risk and mobile populations.

Punjab’s children will be at heightened risk if local transmission of virus is established, noted Afzaal. However, he resolved to turn environmental samples negative saying that after successful campaigns, even previously, the virus was driven off from Punjab. ‘With successful campaigns all samples will be turned negative and children be safeguarded’, the EOC coordinator pledged.

He reposed full confidence in Punjab’s polio surveillance network, saying it was capable enough to detect any polio virus circulation, enabling the programme to launch timely campaign responses. Separately, Punjab polio programme head launched the polio eradication campaign at a special ceremony in Lahore by administering polio drops to children. He was joined by renowned cricketers, fast bowler Muhammad Ali and former Pakistan women team captain, Bismah Maroof. Speaking on the occasion, Afzaal urged cricket stars as well as other sportsmen to join hands with polio eradication programme for the noble cause of polio eradication. Both cricketers administered drops to children, urging parents to cooperate with polio teams.