Lahore: Punjab health authorities have set a target to vaccinate over 10.64 million children under five years of age during a sub-national anti-polio campaign commencing across 13 selected districts on September 21.
The target was set during a meeting of the Provincial Task Force for Polio Eradication, chaired by Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique at the Civil Secretariat here on Wednesday. The task force expressed satisfaction over the ongoing efforts to eradicate the virus from the province.
Addressing the forum, the minister directed authorities to utilize all available resources to reach every child, with particular emphasis on covering missed children and mobile populations. He directed that transit teams at bus stands, travel routes and entry and exit points remain fully operational, with special attention to high-risk areas experiencing frequent population movement.
He further directed UCMOs and area in-charges to strictly monitor field operations to ensure effective coverage.
Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman ordered Deputy Commissioners in all targeted districts to personally supervise the campaign, particularly focusing on children missed during previous vaccination rounds.
Health officials briefed the meeting that the campaign would continue from September 21 to 27, covering 1,376 union councils across 13 districts. The drive will continue for seven days in Lahore and four days in the remaining districts.
Eight districts-Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan and Sheikhupura-will receive full coverage, while targeted union councils will be covered in Attock, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Kasur and Mianwali.
A workforce of 77,488 personnel will be deployed through 39,774 teams to implement the campaign. The deployment includes 36,420 mobile teams, which will vaccinate over 8.16 million children door-to-door, 2,060 fixed teams at health centres and 1,294 transit teams to vaccinate children on the move.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Chief Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Uzma Kardar, Primary and Secondary Healthcare Secretary, representatives of international partner organizations and senior health officials, while divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners participated through video link.