A three-day polio eradication campaign to administer polio and Vitamin-A drops to 150,000 children below five years of age will start in the federal capital from Tuesday.
The Directorate of Health, Capital Development Authority (CDA) has constituted 300 mobile teams to administer the vaccine to children. While chairing the inaugural ceremony for the preparation of house-to-house immunisation campaign, Senator Tahira Latif expressed a need to create awareness against this disease.
She said the polio eradication campaign had been a success story in Pakistan as only two cases of polio had so far been reported this year.
The government would soon succeed in its efforts to make Pakistan a polio free country, she added. Director Health, CDA, Dr Saeed Ahmed said as many as 140 transit points especially at zoo, play grounds and markets would be set up in addition to 82 fixed points at dispensaries and private clinics.
He informed vitamin-A drops are useful against eye respiratory diseases.
World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative, Dr Nima said Pakistan was on top in the Muslim countries, which had been able to wiping out this deadly disease. He said only two cases of polio were reported in Pakistan, which is a great success.
Unicef Representative, Dr Qussaay Al Nahi said the launching of third round polio eradication campaign would cover those children who could not be administered polio drops in previous campaigns.
He hoped that Pakistan would become a polio free country by next year.