ISLAMABAD: A special campaign is underway under the National Immunization Days (NIDs) to completely eradicate polio across the country, with a target of vaccinating more than 23.3 million children under the age of five.
The campaign will continue in Lahore till October 19 while it will continue for four days in other districts. More than 200,000 polio workers and supervisors are participating in the campaign, who are going door-to-door to vaccinate children.
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Coordinator Adeel Tazar directed in a review meeting that the campaign should be made more effective in flood-affected and sensitive areas. He said that it is important to maintain continuity of field teams and avoid unnecessary changes so that the quality is not affected.
He urged the district officers to ensure data transparency during the campaign, as any tampering would not be tolerated. Along with this, the need to further strengthen the field monitoring system was also emphasized.
Adeel Tsavro said that special attention should be paid to those areas where there is misunderstanding or refusal regarding the polio vaccine. He highlighted the importance of community involvement, saying that restoring trust through religious leaders, teachers and local personalities is essential for the success of the campaign.