Polio campaign resumes tomorrow after 'improvement' on virus front

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Zafar Mirza has said the government is going to resume anti-polio campaigns to administer polio drops to children in specific localities across the country from Monday.

In a tweet, he said: “As things are improving on COVID front we are resuming polio campaigns in specific localities from July 20.”

He said all the government-defined standard operating procedures (SOPs) and health guidelines for social distancing and safety of vaccinators as well as children to be immunised will be strictly followed.

<335> As things are improving on COVID front we are resuming polio campaigns in specific localities from July 20. 2 days to go! All SOP’s of social distancing & safety of vaccination will be strictly followed. #NayaPakistanSehatmandPakistan #EndPolioNow #WarAgainstPolio pic.twitter.com/uYvrkYuDNZ

— Zafar Mirza (@zfrmrza) July 18, 2020

On Saturday, another polio case was reported from Balochistan, taking the national tally of cases thus far this year to 60. A 17-month-old girl, who belongs to Chaman town of Qila Abdullah district, has been affected by the crippling disease.

The child is a resident of Union Council Mehmoodabad, tehsil Chaman, Qila Abdullah district. The victim’s right lower limb has been paralysed.