The four days anti-polio campaign will be launched in nine districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from today (Monday) in response to the polio cases and continuous virus circulation in the region.

According the Emergency Operation Centre Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the anti-polio campaign will start from today and will continue till Thursday, which will be followed by catch up of missed children on the fifth day in District Torghar, Kohistan Upper, Kohistan Lower, Kolae Palas, Shangla, Battagram, Abbottabad, Mansehra and Haripur.

In the entire nine districts 1089664 children below the age of 5 years will be vaccinated by 4800 teams: comprising 4162 mobile teams, 427 fixed teams, 182 transit teams and 33 roaming teams.

The campaign is focused on reaching and vaccinating every child for stopping transmission of virus and outbreak in the region.

EOC Coordinator Abdul Basit said that continuous support of parents and care givers is vital in the upcoming anti-polio vaccination campaigns to curb polio virus transmission and outbreak.

He said parents/caregivers should rest assured that anti-polio vaccines are the safest vaccines. Vaccination of every child contributes to overall and sustained efforts to fail virus transmission and its eradication.

Cooperate with polio workers when they knock on your door and ensure administering polio drops to your children. Anti-polio drops build immunity of your children against polio virus so save them from paralysis even if it needs you to go to nearby health facility/center for vaccinating your children.

District Torghar reported 7 polio cases and District Shangla reported one polio case in 2019 so far. Count of polio cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa rises to 64 during 2019 so far.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019