Arrangements for polio vaccination campaign finalised

QUETTA: A meeting held here on Monday reviewed arrangements for a polio vaccination campaign to be launched in high-risk areas of Balochistan this month.

The campaign would begin on April 25 in 13 districts of the province, including Pishin, Qilla Abdullah and Quetta.

Speaking on the occasion, Commissioner of Quetta division Kambar Dashti and Head of Polio Emergency Centre, Balochistan, Dr Syed Saifur Rehman reiterated their resolve to eradicate polio virus from Balochistan.

The commissioner directed authorities concerned to effectively conduct the immunisation campaign.

He stressed the need for making the campaign more effective and said that inefficiency on the part of district administration, health department and other government agencies concerned would not be tolerated. He said eradication of polio virus was the top most priority of the government.

The meeting was informed that the vaccination campaign launched in March achieved 94 per cent result.

The commissioner said the credit for the success of the last month’s campaign went to the Quetta’s district administration, district health officers and other agencies concerned, adding that an award of appreciation would be given to the deputy commissioner of Quetta by the chief secretary of Balochistan.

The meeting was informed that micro planning and micro census had been initiated to improve the quality of immunisation campaigns and to prevent the spread of the virus. Directives have been issued to district officers for the formation of teams and making strategy to evaluate their performance and to improve their reach in their areas of activity.

Mr Dashti said special arrangements were being made for eradiation of polio from the province and improvement in the performance of district administrations, the health department and other agencies concerned. He said he would personnel monitor this month’s campaign.

Dr Rehman said special arrangements had been made to cover children belonging to nomadic tribes and families of farmers and brick kiln workers. At the same time, he added, arrangements at fixed points were also being improved.

He said during the last five campaigns there had been improvement in results in Quetta, Qilla Abdullah and Pishin.

He stressed the need for continuity of polio vaccination campaigns so that these achievements could not go waste.