Anti-polio drive underway in city amid tight security and begins today RAWALPINDI

KARACHI: An anti-polio campaign was launched in 24 union councils of six districts in the city amid tight security on Sunday.
During the campaign, around 0.5 million children have been vaccinated against polio virus.

In Karachi, the drive has been launched in 24 union councils which included UC 4, 5 and 8 of Gadap Town; UC 10, 11, 12 and 13 of Gulshan-e-Iqbal; UC 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Baldia; UC 1, 2 and 3 of Orangi; UC 7, 8 and 9 of SITE; UC 2, 3 and 4 of Bin Qasim; UC 1 and 2 of Landhi Town; UC 9 of Saddar Town and UC 8 of Gulberg Town.
Motorbike riding was banned in these UCs from 10am to 6pm on Sunday as Section 144 was imposed in the areas where police were providing security to polio workers and volunteers.

RAWALPINDI: A five-day anti-polio drive would commence from today (Monday), during which 1,408 polio teams would go door-to-door and administer anti-polio drops to 711,744 children under the age of five years in all tehsils and union councils of the Rawalpindi district. The health authorities suggested the district officers to take steps under Section 144 against those hindering the campaign. It was also decided that 95 polio centres would be established in the urban areas in order to facilitate the citizens and serve them at their doorsteps. He said the staff deployed for the campaign had been issued special instructions and informed that no negligence in this regard would be tolerated. “Health Department officials have also been directed to remain vigilant, particularly in those areas where polio virus was found during the last year’s campaign,” District Programme Coordinator Javaid Iqbal Chaudhry said. “All possible steps have been taken by the Health Department to make the campaign a success.” Javaid said that 1,408 mobile teams had been constituted for the door-to-door vaccination of children. Besides that, 350 special centres would be set up to facilitate the parents so that their children could be vaccinated in nearby areas, he said, adding that a sufficient quantity of vaccine was available, and no stone would be left unturned in the efforts to make the campaign a success. He 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.”

View the original article here