Polio Vaccination Campaign Kicks Off in Balochistan, Targeting Over 2.6 Million Children

Quetta:A seven-day polio vaccination campaign has officially begun in Balochistan, starting on December 17, 2024. The initiative aims to vaccinate over 2.6 million children across the province, following the recent detection of polio cases and the presence of the virus in environmental samples.

In a statement, Inam-ul-Haq, Coordinator of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Balochistan, confirmed that the campaign was launched due to the alarming increase in polio cases in the region. The vaccination effort is being carried out to safeguard children from the virus, with the goal of protecting the younger population from lifelong disabilities caused by polio.

The coordinator emphasized that the vaccination drive will be conducted across all districts of Balochistan, including high-risk areas such as Chaman, Dera Bugti, Quetta, Jhal Magsi, Zhob, Killa Abdullah, Pishin, Loralai, Nushki, Chaghi, Kharan, and Jaffarabad, where polio cases have been most prevalent in recent months.

Inam-ul-Haq appealed to all parents to ensure their children receive the polio vaccine. He warned that if children are not vaccinated, they could face permanent disability. He also urged community leaders, teachers, and religious scholars to support the campaign to ensure its success.

The campaign will involve approximately 11,600 teams, including 9,326 mobile teams, 904 fixed vaccination sites, and 593 transit points. The provincial government had initially postponed the campaign by one day upon a request from the Balochistan Home Department, but the campaign has now commenced as planned.

Inam-ul-Haq further commended the efforts of the polio workers, who have continued their duties under challenging conditions to protect the children of Balochistan from this debilitating disease. He called on parents to work together with the vaccination teams to ensure the health and safety of the next generation.