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99% children vaccinated during campaign

Islamabad : The nationwide polio vaccination campaign launched on December 16 is achieving the desired objectives; its success will set the tone for turning tide against the crippling virus that has paralysed 111 children in Pakistan so far during 2019.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr. Zafar Mirza expressed these views while updating progress on the ongoing campaign wherein 265,000 frontline polio workers are going door-to-door to vaccinate 39.52 million children under the age of five.

According to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), though data from remote union councils of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhunkhwa is yet to be added for yesterday, polio workers have successfully vaccinated almost 39.1 million (99%) of the targeted children across Pakistan in four days of the campaign already. Catch-up activities to cover missed children will continue in core reservoirs of Karachi, Peshawar, Khyber, Quetta, Pishin and Killa Abdullah, till December 22.

The campaign was inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan in the federal capital and all Chief Ministers in the respective provinces as a mark of national commitment. “We are mindful of the serious challenges posed by the virus and its implications on health and economy. A transformation process has begun; besides de-politicization of the programme, it aims to integrate routine immunization, revive the One Team approach with stringent accountability; and broaden partnerships to deliver an integrated package of services to the most deprived communities living in super-high risk union councils within the core reservoirs,” stated Dr. Zafar.

We are encouraged by the campaign progress so far, shared Dr. Rana Muhammad Safdar who was reassigned last month to lead the country’s fight back against the raging virus assault. “Our engagement with communities and efforts to tackle negative propaganda are bearing fruits as we observe parents responsibly immunizing their children to keep them protected against polio,” he claimed.

Pakistan remains one of the last two countries in the world, alongside Afgh­anistan, where poliovirus continues to circulate actively. It is a collective responsibility of every Pakistani to ensure all children are protected. The Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative has also initiated ‘Sehat Tahhafuz Helpline’ to assist reporting of missed children during the national immunization campaign. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to dial the Helpline 1166 and register their concerns regarding missed children.



from The News International - Islamabad https://ift.tt/2PMu5nY
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