Three-day anti-polio campaign begins in Balochistan

QUETTA: Three-day anti-polio campaign will begin in 13 districts of Balochistan today on Monday. The campaign will administer anti-polio drops to more than 1.3 million children below the age of five.

According to sources, the anti-polio campaign is launched after seven new cases of polio were reported in the province.

Also Read: Two new polio cases reported in Balochistan & KP

The new campaign will cover areas including Jaffarabad, Jhal Magsi, Naseerabad, Sohbatpur, Qilla Addullah, Dera Bugti, Daki, Ziarat, Quetta, Loralai, Sibbi and Pishin, added sources.

Sources also added that at least 7,481 teams will be taking part in the anti-polio drive including 4,547 mobile teams, 450 fixed sides and 444 transit teams.

Also Read: Nationwide anti-polio campaign starts from Nov 2

Earlier, two new polio cases have been reported in Qilla Abdullah district of Balochistan, raising the number of polio-affected children to five during the current year.

According to reports, a 17-month old was diagnosed with the virus by the health department of the Balochistan province. The latest polio case takes the total number of such cases in the Balochistan to five this year.

Also Read: 36-month-old polio victim dies in Sindh

Officials claim reluctance on the part of parents to immunize children against polio is the main reason behind the spike in the number of polio cases in Pakistan this year.