Anti-polio campaign begins as Minister Health seems cooperation of all to end polio from Balochistan

Anti-polio campaign begins as Minister Health seems cooperation of all to end polio from Balochistan

QUETTA: The anti-polio campaign commenced in all districts of Balochistan including Quetta on Monday. The Provincial Minister for Health, Bakht Muhammad Kakar formally inaugurated the vital campaign by administering anti-polio vaccine to the children at MPA Hostel.
Also present on the occasion were the high ups Health Department, Coordinator of Emergency Operation Center (EOC) for Polio Eradication, Inamul Haq as well as representatives of the World Health Organization, UNICEF and civil society.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the Minister Health said that the seven-day anti polio campaign has been started all over the province.
He said that over 11,000 teams would take part in the immunization campaign administering anti-polio vaccine to more than 2.6 million children.
He said that the polio virus is still present in the environmental samples of the province, so there is a dire need to ensure immunization of all children below five years of age.
He noted with concern that the poliovirus just exists in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He said that it is our collective responsibility to work tirelessly for eradication of polio from the province.
The Minister Health particularly urged the parents and other segments of the society including the religious leaders and civil society to play wholehearted part in ending the virus from province.
He mentioned that special arrangements have been made for security of the teams engaged in the immunization campaign.
The campaign, it may be mentioned here, would remain continued till April 27, 2025.