Balochistan’s Anti-Polio Drive set to Begin on May 18

QUETTA: An important meeting of the Provincial Task Force for Polio Eradication was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Balochistan Shakeel Qadir Khan, during which participants reviewed the ongoing efforts aimed at eradicating polio from the province once and for all.

The meeting emphasized the need to further strengthen the anti-polio campaign across Balochistan. The Chief Secretary stated that the provincial government remains fully committed to eradicating polio and will mobilize all available resources to achieve this objective.

He directed the relevant authorities to ensure strict security arrangements during the campaign and to enhance public awareness, particularly among parents, regarding the importance and benefits of vaccination.

On the occasion, Provincial Coordinator EOC Inam-ul-Haq briefed the meeting and informed participants that environmental samples collected from eight locations last month had tested positive for the poliovirus, raising serious concerns about the potential spread of the disease.

The meeting was informed that the next anti-polio campaign would commence on May 18, during which approximately 1.9 million children across 25 districts would be administered polio drops. A total of 7,699 teams will participate in the campaign.

The Chief Secretary directed officials to further enhance the effectiveness of the polio eradication drive. The meeting also reviewed the previous campaign, during which the Chief Secretary expressed satisfaction over its performance.

Participants were further briefed on the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). Officials informed the meeting that steps had been taken to digitize the EPI system, enabling real-time monitoring of vaccinators’ attendance through a mobile application, while vaccination activities could also be tracked digitally through the same platform.