Polio campaign launched to immunise over 10m children

The Sindh government's Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has launched a province-wide anti-polio campaign, which will continue until June one. According to the EOC Sindh spokesperson, the campaign aims to vaccinate over 10.6 million children under the age of five across 30 districts of the province. More than 80,000 trained polio workers will go door to door to administer the drops, supported by 25,539 security personnel. In addition to polio drops, children aged six to 59 months will also receive Vitamin A supplements to help boost their immunity. Following successful rounds in February and April, this phase is considered crucial in strengthening nationwide efforts to eradicate the poliovirus. Although significant progress has been made, environmental samples from districts like Karachi, Hyderabad, and Larkana still show traces of the virus. So far, four polio cases have been reported in Sindh this year. The spokesperson emphasised that as long as the poliovirus exists anywhere in the world, it remains a threat to our children. This campaign reflects our collective commitment to reaching every child and eliminating polio for good. The campaign is currently underway in 1,292 union councils across Sindh, where district administrations, the health department, and partner organisations are actively supporting polio teams. EOC Sindh urges parents, teachers, religious scholars, media, and community leaders to play a proactive role in this national cause. If a child has missed their polio drops, citizens are encouraged to call the helpline at 1166 or send a WhatsApp message to 0346-7776546.

from Pakistan News, Latest News Pakistan, Pakistan Headline | The Express Tribune https://ift.tt/Mzb4fEC