‘Final push’ launched to curb polio menace
ISLAMABAD — A Pakistani health official said authorities have launched a week-long anti-polio campaign touted as a ‘final push’ against the crippling disease.
Its aim is to vaccinate millions of children under 5 years of age.
Dr Rana Safdar, the campaign’s national coordinator, said the campaign was launched on Monday amid tight security in 89 districts and towns with a total of 110,000 health workers who will fan out vaccinate 19.2 million children.
He says the campaign will last for four days in some areas.
Polio is still endemic in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.
But with just three cases reported this year, Pakistan is close to completely eradicating the disease. Pakistan regularly carries out anti-polio drives despite threats from the Taleban who claim the campaign is a Western conspiracy to sterilise children. Meanwhile, unidentified gunmen shot injured a polio worker in Kachibaig near Sariab area of Quetta on Monday.
According to police, the victim Abdul Hakeem was on his way to administer anti-polio drops to children in the area, when armed outlaws opened fire at him. He reportedly offered resistance when they tried to snatch mobile phone and bike from him. He was rushed to civil hospital for medical aid.
Police registered a case and started investigation. —