Sohbatpur DC Farida Tareen chairs meeting on anti-polio campaign

SOHBATPUR: Deputy Commissioner Farida Tareen has said that the complete eradication of polio is among the top priorities of the Balochistan government. She said the cooperation of parents and the public is essential to protect children from lifelong disability.

She said the Balochistan government is taking serious and effective steps to rid the province of polio completely. She said that ending a deadly and crippling disease like polio is the most important need of the time, and that public cooperation is vital alongside government efforts.

She said parents and all sections of society should play their full part in the ongoing national campaign against polio. She said every child up to the age of five must be given polio drops so that future generations can be protected from this deadly disease.

She was speaking while chairing a meeting held today on the anti-polio campaign starting in November. The District Health Officer, representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) and officials of the Health Department and other relevant departments attended the meeting.

Briefing and directives at the meeting

During the meeting, the Health Department gave the Deputy Commissioner a detailed briefing on the preparations and arrangements for the polio campaign starting in November. It covered micro-planning, the formation and training of polio teams, the identification of sensitive areas, transit points and the steps taken to make the campaign a success.

Deputy Commissioner Farida Tareen directed the officials concerned to use all available resources to ensure access to every area and every household during the campaign. She also directed them to monitor the performance of the polio teams effectively and to ensure that no child up to the age of five in any area is left without polio drops.

She said problems arising during the campaign should be resolved immediately. She said the polio teams must be provided with the facilities and security they need.

Awareness and cooperation

She further said that raising awareness among parents is extremely important for the complete eradication of polio. She said religious scholars, teachers, social leaders and local government representatives should also play their part in this national duty. This, she said, would build public confidence in the importance of the polio vaccine and make every household realise that giving children polio drops guarantees their safe future.

The Deputy Commissioner expressed the resolve that the district administration and the Health Department would continue to take all possible steps to make the anti-polio campaign a success, through mutual coordination and a joint strategy.