Anti-polio campaign to begin tomorrow

Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique said planning for eradication of polio will be made on the pattern of dengue and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif will be requested to constitute a cabinet committee in this regard. He said this while presiding over a meeting to review the steps in connection with launching a three-day anti-polio campaign from September 29 and an action plan for eradication of polio from the province.
Secretary Health Jawad Rafique Malik, DCO Lahore Captain Muhammad Usman (Retd), Director General Health Punjab Dr Zahid Pervaiz, EDO Health Lahore Dr Zulfiqar Ali, representative of WHO Dr Ubaid-ul-Salam, Dr Aslam Chaudhry of Bill Gates Foundation, Muhammad Saeed Shamsi of Pakistan Rotary Club, representative of Unicef Dr Naeem Ullah and Ivon attended the meeting.
DCO Lahore told 72 union councils of Lahore have been declared sensitive regarding polio, out of which Pakthuns are residing in 25 union councils. Kh Salman Rafique directed that at least a woman worker speaking Pashto should be included in every team administering polio drops to the Pakhtun children. DCO further told pamphlets will be dropped through aeroplane for creating awareness against polio in Lahore and walks will also be held on Sunday.
Representatives of WHO and UNICEF while appreciating the performance of Health Department and Punjab government for eradication of polio said sincere efforts are being made for eradication of polio in Punjab and things are moving towards right direction. Representative of Bill Gates Foundation Dr Aslam Chaudhry said 102 clusters of Pakhtun population in 72 sensitive union councils of Lahore need special attention. DCO Lahore Muhammad Usman said district government will take every step for making environmental samples negative and anti-polio campaign successful.
Kh Salman Rafique said refusal to administer polio drops will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken against the persons responsible. He said help of police department will be sought during polio campaign and monitoring of polio teams will be assigned to Special Branch.