Pakistan launches ‘special anti-polio campaign’

ISLAMABAD: A five-day special anti-polio vaccination campaign has commenced from Monday (today) in Pakistan after wild poliovirus Type-1 was found in sewage lines, raising alarm for the authorities, ARY News reported.

The authorities have launched a five-day special anti-polio vaccination campaign in 31 district of all four provinces, where environmental sample testing of sewage samples returned positive for the wild poliovirus Type-1.

Sources told ARY News that the campaign – named Outbreak Response – will be conducted in three phases in six outbreak zones of the four provinces.

Throughout the campaign, over 10 million children under the age of five will receive the vaccine, along with the supplementary dose of vitamin A.

According to officials of Emergency Operation Center Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during the 5-day campaign more than one point two million children up to five years of age will be administered anti-polio vaccine drops.

The anti-polio campaigns were also launched in Balochistan’s Awaran, Dera Bugti, Gwadar, Hub, Jafarabad, Naseerabad, Sohbat Pur, Khuzdar, Lasbela and Usta Muhammad districts.

Meanwhile, Sindh Caretaker Health Minister Dr Saad Khalid Niaz said that an anti-polio campaign had also kicked off in Karachi. “The decision to restart the campaign was taken after the recent case of polio in Karachi,” Dr. Niaz said.

Health officials said the challenge of polio still existed and emphasised the need for all to work together to eradicate the menace.

“They urge all parents and caregivers to get their children vaccinated instead of hiding them or refusing to let them be administered polio drops during the drive”.

Earlier on October 21, Pakistan’s health ministry reported fourth polio case this year after a 24-year-old in the city was diagnosed with the disease.

Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries in the world where polio remains endemic.

Earlier, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar vowed that the government would resist “anti-vaxxers” and realize the dream of a polio-free Pakistan.