PESHAWAR: A five days outbreak response campaign (OBR) has been planned in six districts of Bannu and D.I.KhanDivisions from march 14, next wherein over 1.07 million eligible children will be vaccinated against polio.
This was disclosed in a readiness meeting held here Friday at Emergency Operations Center Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (EOC) with Coordinator EOC Abdul Basit in the chair. Deputy EOC Coordinator Zamin Khan, Team Lead UNICEF, Dr Andrew Etsano, Team Leam WHO, Gedi Muhammad, Team Lead N Stop Dr Hafizullah, Technical Focal Person EOC, Dr Imtiaz and officials of health department were also present on the occasion.
The meeting was informed that all necessary operational, communications and security measures have been taken to ensure smooth conduct of the campaign.
In a brief presentation, EOC Coordinator was informed that more than 1.07million children under five years will be administered polio drops in the upcoming OBR campaign planned in Bannu, Lakki Marwat North Waziristan, South Waziristan, Tank and D.I. Khan districts.
To execute the campaign a total of 5711 teams have been constituted out of which 5147 are mobile teams, 278 fixed teams, 249 transit teams and 37 roaming teams, the meeting was informed.
Likewise, to ensure quality of the campaign 1390 area in-charges have been deployed while strict security measures have been taken for safety and security of the teams.
Speaking on the occasion, Additional Secretary Health (polio) and Coordinator EOC, Abdul Basit stressed on improved coordination with district and field staff for bridging operational and communications challenges saying that zero tolerance will be observed for negligence.
He held an appeal to the parents to vaccinate their children in every campaign as move closer to achieving the goal of polio free Pakistan.
Coordinator paid rich tributes to the frontline workers and law enforcement personal for their hard work and commitment saying that the same level of motivation was required at all levels to cleanse the environment from poliovirus and protect children from lifelong paralysis.