LAHORE - The anti polio campaign is starting from today in five districts as part of the Sub National Immunization Day.
The campaign will target around 3.5 million children of below five years of age in DG Khan, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan and Multan districts, said Advisor to CM on Health Kh Salman Rafiq.
Rafiq said coordination with districts have been made to ensure complete preparations that included micro planning, meetings of district management, vaccine supply and mapping of population at greater risk to polio virus.
Healthcare Secretary Ali Jan Khan said that the National Emergency Action Plan for Polio eradication was being implemented in letter and spirit.
“The complete ownership by district management under the leadership of DCOs has been pivotal in ensuring Punjab’s better results in polio eradication,” he added. The secretary also directed the staff to ensure implementing pre-campaign activities in line with the National Emergency Plan for Polio Eradication.
Dr Mukhtar Hussain Syed, Punjab Health Services Director General, said: “The districts have been selected on the basis of population movement patterns from areas having polio virus circulation and other risk factors.
“The movement of the population at inter-provincial borders, especially from the areas having polio virus circulation, is also under special focus. “Southern districts in general are monitored because of geographic situation,” he added.
EOC Coordinator Dr Munir Ahmed requested parents to ensure their children get polio drops. He said parents may also take their children to vaccination centers where staff is available to vaccinate for nine vaccine preventable diseases as well.
In case of teams not visiting the area, he added, parents can contact at the helpline during campaign days.
CLINICAL AUDIT DIRECTED
Specialised Healthcare Medical Education Secretary Najam Ahmad Shah has directed the heads of teaching hospitals and specialised healthcare institutions to complete process of outsourcing of janitorial services within a week.
During a meeting, he directed the principals and heads of specialised healthcare institutions to evolve a system for clinical audit of their institutions.
The meeting was chaired by CM’s adviser Kh Salman Rafiq and attended by vice chancellors of King Edward Medical University, Fatima Jinnah Medical University and University of Health Sciences, principals of medical colleges, heads of healthcare institutions and medical superintendents of teaching hospitals.
Kh Salman Rafiq directed making arrangements for control and treatment of Congo fever. He directed the authorities to follow the protocol and SOPs prepared by World Health Organization in the treatment and case management of Congo patients.