Rawalpindi - A five-day anti-polio drive would commence in the entire district from January 11. During the campaign 1696 polio teams would go door-to-door and administer polio drops to 750,793 children less than five years of age.
The staff deployed for the campaign has been issued special instructions and informed that no negligence in this regard would be tolerated, Executive District Officer (EDO- Health) Dr Arshad Ali Sabir told APP here Monday.
EDO said, “1696 mobile teams have been constituted for door-to-door vaccination of the children. Besides that 291 special centers will be set up to facilitate the parents so that their children could be vaccinated in nearby areas. Sufficient quantity of vaccine is available, and no stone will be left unturned in our efforts to make the campaign a success.” The Health Department officials have been directed to remain vigilant, particularly in those areas where polio-virus was found during the last campaign, the District programme coordinator Javaid Iqbal Ch informed. He said all possible steps had been taken by the Health Department to make the campaign a success.
The DPC urged the citizens, particularly the parents, to come forward and play their role for the elimination of the crippling disease from society. “The parents should cooperate with the special teams so that the set target could be achieved.” He said continuous efforts were being made to control polio. Special teams have also been formed to cover areas from where complaints about unattended children are registered, he said, adding that special arrangements have also been made to cover Cantonment Board areas of Rawalpindi.