A nationwide polio immunisation campaign was launched on Monday in 99 districts of the country.

Around 28 million children will be administered the polio vaccine drops during the campaign. More than 240,000 polio workers would participate in the campaign.

The anti-polio campaign is being launched in major districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, besides the federal capital, Islamabad.

Two-phase campaign in KP

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the anti-polio campaign is being launched in two phases. The campaign aims to vaccinate 5.75 million children under the age of five, according to KP Health Adviser Ehtesham Ali.

Speaking to the media, Ehtesham Ali stated that the campaign would be conducted in two phases.

The first phase – from September 1 to September 4 – covers Peshawar and 15 other districts. A partial campaign is also planned in three districts.

The second phase will be carried out from September 15 to 18 in Bannu, Bajaur, and Dera Ismail Khan divisions, he added.

To ensure the campaign’s success, over 27,000 polio teams have been formed, while more than 40,000 security personnel have been deployed across the province under a strict security plan to protect the polio workers.

Ehtesham Ali emphasised the importance of public cooperation, urging parents to support polio teams and ensure their children receive the life-saving vaccine drops.

Balochistan to vaccinate 2 million kids

A province-wide anti-polio campaign has also been launched in 26 districts of Balochistan, with a target to vaccinate 2.179 million children under the age of five.

According to the Coordinator of the Emergency Operations Centre, a total of 8,933 teams are participating in the campaign.

These include 652 fixed teams stationed at healthcare centres and 449 mobile teams deployed at transit points to vaccinate children on the move.

The campaign is being carried out in the following districts: Quetta, Pishin, Killa Abdullah, Chaman, Barkhan, Dera Bugti, Hub, Jafarabad, Jhal Magsi, Kalat, Khuzdar, Killa Saifullah, Loralai, Mastung, Nushki, Naseerabad, Sherani, Sibi, Sohbatpur, Usta Muhammad, Zhob, Musakhel, Chaghi, Duki, Lasbela, and Ziarat.

Health authorities have urged parents to cooperate with polio teams and ensure their children are vaccinated during the campaign to protect them from the crippling disease.