Seven-Day Anti-Polio Campaign Launched in 41 Districts to Vaccinate 9.5 Million Children
A comprehensive seven-day anti-polio campaign has been initiated across 41 districts in Pakistan, targeting the vaccination of over 9.5 million children under the age of five. The Ministry of Health is leading this crucial effort, aiming to address the gaps identified in previous campaigns and ensure broader immunity against polio.
Campaign Overview
The nationwide campaign aims to intensify efforts in eradicating polio by focusing on high-risk areas and reaching children who were missed during earlier drives. The campaign will include:
- Target Districts: 41 districts across various provinces, including Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan.
- Duration: July 1-7, 2024
- Target Population: Over 9.5 million children under five years of age.
Key Focus Areas
- Inclusion of Previously Unvaccinated Children:
- Balochistan: The districts of Chaman and Qila Abdullah, where children were previously left unvaccinated, are now a priority. Local teams will work to cover these areas comprehensively.
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Targeting North and South Waziristan, Tank, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Peshawar, and Lakki Marwat to ensure vaccination of children who missed out in the past due to security issues.
- Special Measures:
- Security and Accessibility: Enhanced security measures and logistical support are being implemented to reach children in hard-to-access and conflict-prone regions.
- Community Engagement: Increased involvement of local leaders and community workers to promote the importance of vaccination and ensure community support.
- Monitoring and Reporting:
- Data Collection: Real-time data collection and monitoring to track the progress and ensure that no child is left unvaccinated.
- Follow-Up: Follow-up visits and checks to confirm the effectiveness of the campaign and address any missed areas or issues.
Previous Campaign Gaps:
- Vaccination Shortfall: In the previous campaign, over 600,000 children were not vaccinated due to various challenges including security concerns and logistical issues.
- High-Risk Areas: Children in conflict-affected regions such as North and South Waziristan faced difficulties in receiving vaccines.
Current Campaign Strategies:
- Enhanced Security: Collaboration with local law enforcement and community leaders to provide a secure environment for vaccination teams.
- Community Outreach: Strengthening communication strategies to build trust and encourage participation in the vaccination drive.
- Increased Coverage: Deployment of additional vaccination teams and mobile units to reach remote and high-risk areas.
Expected Outcomes
The campaign aims to achieve:
- Full Coverage: Vaccinate all children under five in the targeted districts, focusing especially on those previously missed.
- Polio Eradication: Contribute significantly to the global effort to eradicate polio by reducing the number of unvaccinated children in Pakistan.
- Increased Awareness: Raise awareness about the importance of polio vaccination among communities, leading to better participation in future campaigns.
Summary
- Campaign Duration: July 1-7, 2024
- Target: 9.5 million children in 41 districts
- Focus Areas: Previously unvaccinated children in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with enhanced security and outreach efforts.
This anti-polio drive represents a critical step towards ensuring the health and safety of children across Pakistan, contributing to the global mission of eradicating polio.