QUETTA: Coordinator Emergency Operation Center Balochistan Syed Faisal Ahmad has said that a three day polio immunization campaign is set to kick off from 20th of March across 29 districts of Balochistan to ensure each children is immunized against the crippling virus.
Coordinator Emergency Operation Center Balochistan Syed Faisal Ahmad and Balochistan’s religious scholars held a press briefing in Quetta about the scheduled campaign, saying that the campaign would cover all the districts except Ziarat where arrangements have been made to commence the campaign on 27th March.
He further added that security arrangements in this regards have also been finalized, adding that three days’ polio campaign would commence in 29 districts of Balochistan, in which 2428547 children till age five would be administered immunization drops. During the campaign, he further added, 9532 teams will participate, in which 8079 mobile teams, 810 fixed sites and 643 transit points are included.
“In Balochistan, in 2016, two polio cases were reported in Quetta and Chaman, respectively. Still, in Quetta, Killa Abdullah and Pishin districts, polio viruses are present, which is alarming. These viruses, we are apprehensive, can affect children in the aforementioned districts,” he said. “During the polio campaign, religious scholars will provide their services for the purpose of creating awareness among the people of Balochistan, particular in the districts, where polio viruses are present.”
However, speakers said that they would leave no stones unturned to provide polio drops to children in Balochistan, particularly at transit points. They also vowed they would eradicate polio in Balochistan.
In the past, Syed Faisal said, several villages and towns across the province would be among refusals to give polio drops to children. But it has tremendously decreased, and we have less than one per cent of refusals now in the province, he added.
In Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, speakers said 3000 children are still left to be given drops of polio.
In their concluding remarks, speakers said, during the campaign, political, tribal and religious scholars are with them, particularly in Pishin and Killa Abdullah.
Source: Daily Balochistan Express
