Naseerabad commissioner orders zero-dose children be identified for polio drops

NASEERABAD: Commissioner Naseerabad Division Salahuddin Nurzai has said the micro-plan must be fully implemented to make the anti-polio campaign effective across the division. He said zero-dose children must be identified and given polio drops. He said no negligence or carelessness would be tolerated during the campaign.

He said this while chairing an important meeting on the anti-polio campaign and the EPI programme. District Health Officer Naseerabad Dr Ayaz Jamali and other officials concerned attended. All Deputy Commissioners briefed the meeting by video link on preparations for the anti-polio campaign about to begin in their Districts.

World Health Organization (WHO) coordinator Dr Yasir gave the Commissioner Naseerabad Division a detailed briefing on the anti-polio campaign.

Training and monitoring of polio teams

Commissioner Salahuddin Nurzai directed that polio teams be fully trained. He also directed that special attention be paid to union councils that performed poorly in earlier campaigns, so that their performance improves. He said all Deputy Commissioners should supervise the anti-polio campaign themselves. They should regularly review the performance of teams in the field, children covered and the set targets of the campaign.

He said the administration in Districts where LQAS results have been unsatisfactory should take special steps to improve the quality of the campaign. Shortcomings should be removed at once. Action should be taken under the rules against those whose performance is unsatisfactory or who neglect their duties.

He further said a special campaign would also be run in the near future to reach zero-dose children, so that no child is left without polio drops.

EPI programme and data entry

Stressing the importance of the EPI programme, the Commissioner said special attention should be paid to the Immunization programme to protect children from various deadly and epidemic diseases. He said all related data must be entered correctly and on time. He made it clear that slackness and negligence in data entry would not be tolerated at all. He said third-party monitoring would also be carried out to check the performance and transparency of the programme.

He said Chief Secretary Balochistan is giving special attention to this important matter. He said all officials concerned should therefore perform their duties well.

The Commissioner Naseerabad Division urged parents to complete the prescribed course of Immunization to protect their children from various epidemic and preventable diseases. He said parents’ negligence could expose children’s health and future to dangerous diseases.

He said ending polio and protecting children from disease is a shared responsibility of all. He said the district administration, the Health department, polio teams and parents must play their full part toward this goal, so that every child in Naseerabad Division can be provided protection.

Photo: courtesy DGPR Balochistan