DERA ISMAIL KHAN:Commissioner Dawood Khan has reviewed preparations for the upcoming anti-polio campaign in Dera Ismail Khan division, scheduled for November 02 to 05, and directed officials to ensure vaccination of every child under five years of age.
Chairing a meeting of the Divisional Task Force (DTF) on Polio Eradication, he reviewed the performance of the previous campaign, identified shortcomings and called for effective measures to achieve the targets of the upcoming sub-national immunisation days (SNIDs) campaign.
The meeting was informed that seven polio cases had been reported across the country this year, including five in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The recent detection of poliovirus in an environmental sample after a gap of several months further underscored the need for sustained vaccination efforts.
The commissioner directed the relevant authorities to address the weaknesses identified during the previous campaign, improve implementation of micro-plans and strengthen monitoring of vaccination teams. He also stressed the need for effective communication with parents refusing vaccination and for raising awareness about the importance of polio drops.
He instructed officials to utilise all available resources to ensure effective monitoring and 100 per cent vaccination coverage. The police department was directed to provide foolproof security to vaccination teams and other staff involved in the campaign so they could perform their duties without fear.
Regional Police Officer Ghulam Mubashir Mekan, health department officials, district health officers, representatives of the World Health Organisation and district health communication support officers attended the meeting. Representatives of the deputy commissioners of South Waziristan Upper, South Waziristan Lower and Tank also participated online.
The participants emphasised close coordination among relevant departments to ensure the campaign’s success through effective security arrangements, monitoring and public cooperation.
The commissioner urged parents, religious scholars, community elders and all sections of society to support the campaign and ensure that every child under five received polio drops.
He said polio was a dangerous and incurable disease that could cause lifelong disability, but timely vaccination could prevent it. He called on parents to cooperate with vaccination teams during every campaign to help protect children and achieve a polio-free society.