QUETTA: The health officials have urged parents and caregivers to prioritize their children’s health by taking part in the vaccination campaign, which begins in 11 districts on Monday, in light of the polio cases that have returned to Balochistan after a three-year hiatus.
Even while the campaign against polio has made tremendous strides, the discovery of two new cases in Dera Bugti and Chaman serves as a sobering reminder of the disease’s ongoing threat.
In response, the emergency operations center is organizing a widespread immunization campaign with health partners to guarantee that all children under five receive two doses of the polio vaccine.
Approximately 889,656 children from the following areas will receive vaccinations throughout the campaign: Chaman, Dera Bugti, Hub, Lasbela, Nasirabad, Sibi, Jaffarabad, Kech, Khuzdar, Usta Muhammad, and Sobhatpur.
To guarantee optimal coverage, some 3,378 teams—2,641 mobile teams, 306 fixed-site teams, and 228 teams at transit points—will be deployed.
The coordinator of the Balochistan emergency operations center, Syed Zahid Shah, emphasized the vital role that immunization plays in shielding kids from the crippling consequences of polio. The alarming reminder that our task is far from done is provided by the recent polio cases in Balochistan. To protect their health and stop the poliovirus from spreading, we implore all parents and caregivers to make sure their kids receive the vaccination during this campaign.
The vaccination is a vital component of the worldwide campaign to permanently eradicate polio since it is safe and effective. Parents who vaccinate their children up to the age of five are safeguarding not only their own families but also the health and welfare of future generations.
But, he added, every community member’s active participation was essential to the campaign’s success. In addition to making sure their children are available for vaccination, parents are asked to work with vaccinators and inform others in their social circle about the significance of the immunization campaign.
Additionally, he called on academics, religious authorities, and members of civil society to guarantee their collaboration, especially during this unique campaign. He promised to supply security to every team taking part in the campaign.
