Anti-polio Drive No Put Off, Starts From 29th August

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Augst,2016) : A Spokesman of Primary and Secondary Health Department Punjab (PSHP) on Friday has contradicted a news item published in a section of press, claiming that anti-polio campaign in the selected districts has been postponed due to security reasons or shortage of polio vaccine.

The spokesman said that like other provinces of Pakistan and the neighbouring country Afghanistan, the anti-polio campaign would be launched in seven polio sensitive districts of Punjab from August 29 to 31.

The selected districts are included Lahore, Rawalpindi, Rahim yar Khan, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur. He said that as the environmental polio sample of Faisalabad has became positive, therefore, anti-polio campaign in Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Hafizabad and Jhang districts is being launched on emergency basis from August 22 to 24.

He maintained that Punjab Health Department has not sent any letter to the Federal government requesting for polio vaccine. "Polio vaccine doses are available in sufficient quantity for the campaign in Punjab," he added.

The spokesman clarified that anti-polio campaign is not being launched across the province but this Sub-National Immunization campaign is being launched only those districts which are considered sensitive with regard to the polio virus.