BAHAWALPUR: As many as 717,694 children under the age of five years will be administered anti-polio drops in the district during the anti-polio drive starting from January 11 in Bahawalpur.
Chief Executive Officer District Health Authority Dr Aurangzaib, representative of WHO, Dr Sheraz and Focal Person Dr Zaki Ali briefed the meeting that 1764 teams have been constituted for the campaign which included 1464 mobile teams, 167 fixed teams and 133, transit teams.
As many as 3932 polio workers will participate in the drive. The campaign will be monitored by 477 supervisors, 296 Area In-charges, 122 Union Council Monitoring Officers and six tehsil supervisors.
Deputy Commissioner directed to use masks, gloves and hand sanitizers during the campaign in order to avoid the spread of coronavirus.
He said that all-out efforts are needed to make the campaign successful and make the district polio-free. In the end, the Deputy Commissioner distributed face masks and hand sanitizers among polio workers.
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan had a telephonic conversation with American business magnate Bill Gates to discuss the status of the coronavirus and the polio campaign. According to sources, the prime minister apprised him of the significant decline in coronavirus cases in Pakistan.
The prime minister said that the support of the Bill Gates Foundation during the coronavirus epidemic has helped Pakistan. He said that he was effectively countered by the infrastructure set up for polio.
PM Imran Khan said that eradication of polio was the top priority of the government. Bill Gates said that the resumption of the campaign to eradicate polio is encouraging, adding that proper precautions should be taken to prevent corona during the polio campaign.
