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Business Recorder
7 days ago
- Health
- Business Recorder
Polio immunisation campaign enters final round in Punjab
LAHORE: The third national polio immunisation campaign of the year, deemed critical for interrupting the ongoing poliovirus transmission, has entered its final phase in Punjab. As of Thursday, polio teams visited house-to-house during the designated catch-up days to reach children who were missed in earlier days of vaccination. In major urban centers and high-risk districts classified as 'mega districts,' the campaign will continue for a full 7 days, concluding on Sunday. In other districts across the province, the drive will run for 5 days and end on Friday (tomorrow). This campaign is especially significant given the onset of the high poliovirus transmission season, which typically lasts from May through September, coinciding with hot and humid conditions that are conducive to virus survival and spread. The timing of the campaign is also strategic, preceding the Eid holidays — a period marked by extensive human mobility. This increased movement raises the risk of virus transmission from one region to another, particularly affecting unvaccinated or immunocompromised children. These children are at heightened risk of contracting and spreading the virus, potentially undermining the gains made in previous immunization rounds. In the first three days alone, frontline polio workers successfully vaccinated over 15 million children under the age of five. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Coordinator, Adeel Tasawar, urged teams to intensify efforts during the catch-up days, emphasizing the importance of revisiting homes where children were missed. 'Achieving high coverage is key to boosting herd immunity,' he stated, 'ensuring the poliovirus has no sanctuary in our communities.' Tasawar called on caregivers and parents to cooperate with polio teams and report any missed children or related issues by contacting the national helpline at 1166. He praised polio workers as national heroes, recognizing their tireless efforts to go door-to-door with the sole mission of eradicating polio from Pakistan. 'They deserve respect, support, and a glass of water if needed,' he added, encouraging the public to honor their dedication. He also lauded the vital role of civil society, which has provided extensive moral support to polio workers, particularly in areas with difficult terrain or security challenges. He reaffirmed the government's unwavering commitment to achieving a polio-free Pakistan, stating that complete eradication is not only a public health priority but a moral responsibility to future generations. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
23-05-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
Punjab to launch 3rd polio immunization drive next week
LAHORE: Punjab is all set to begin the third round of the National Immunization Days (NIDs) from May 26 to June 1, with the goal of vaccinating over 23 million children under the age of five against poliovirus across the province. Adeel Tasawar, Head of the Polio Programme in Punjab, emphasized the urgency and strategic importance of this campaign, warning of heightened risks of virus transmission in the coming weeks. 'This is a crucial campaign that comes approximately just two weeks ahead of Eid, a time of increased travel and population movement, which raises serious concerns about the potential spread of poliovirus,' said Tasawar. 'Adding to the urgency is the fact that there will be a long gap before the next campaign. We must go all out now to ensure maximum coverage.' The campaign will run for seven days in mega districts including Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad. In all other districts, it will span five days. Tasawar issued a strong message to field teams, underlining a zero-tolerance policy toward negligence, poor performance, and data manipulation. 'No untrained polio team will be allowed in the field. We are particularly focused on persistently missed children and mobile populations (MMPs). These gaps must be addressed with urgency and transparency,' he said. 'Still-missed children remain a challenge. We must identify them honestly and ensure they are vaccinated. Intra-campaign clusters must be genuine—fake data will not be tolerated. Anyone entering false information into the system will face immediate action.' He encouraged staff and supervisors to raise issues openly: 'Do not hide problems—bring them forward so we can solve them. We must know where the missed areas are. Effective coverage will only be validated by finger-marked children, nothing else.' Amidst an ongoing heatwave, Tasawar also stressed the importance of maintaining cold chain protocols and prioritizing the health and safety of frontline workers. 'All teams must follow SOPs strictly, including the use of ice packs and cool packs. The safety of our workers and the potency of the vaccine depend on this.' Reiterating the importance of this round, he concluded: 'Given the upcoming Eid holidays and the gap until the next campaign, this round is critical to halting virus transmission. Every child vaccinated brings us a step closer to a polio-free Punjab.' The Punjab polio programme urges parents, communities, and local leaders to extend full cooperation to vaccinators and ensure no child is left behind. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
