Nationwide anti-polio drive to start from tomorrow

Parents are urged to contact the helpline 1166 if a polio team does not visit their homes during the campaign.

ISLAMABAD: In a crucial effort to protect children under the age of five from the debilitating effects of polio, Pakistan is set to kick off a nationwide anti-polio campaign starting tomorrow. The initiative will see health department polio teams canvassing all 159 districts of the country, going door-to-door to administer vaccine drops.

The week-long campaign in Punjab aims to reach over 23 million children, with a particular focus on the cities of Lahore, Faisalabad, and Multan, identified as the most sensitive areas. Similarly, Sindh plans to administer anti-polio vaccine drops to nearly 10.03 million children during its week-long campaign.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, over 7.4 million children will be the focus of a five-day anti-polio drive. Balochistan, on the other hand, targets over 2.5 million children in its week-long campaign. In Gilgit-Baltistan, a five-day effort will see over 250,000 children receiving vaccinations.

Read more: Punjab cautiously celebrates Polio-Free year

Parents are urged to contact the helpline 1166 if a polio team does not visit their homes during the campaign. Last year, Islamabad reported six polio cases, underscoring the importance of sustained efforts against the disease.

As Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries where polio remains endemic, this nationwide campaign serves as a critical step in the ongoing battle to eradicate the virus. The coordinated efforts and commitment to reaching every child underscore the determination to make significant strides in the fight against.

Read more: Pakistan reports first polio case of 2023