505,000 children to be vaccinated in four-day anti-polio drive in Bahawalpur

BAHAWALPUR, Sep 21 (APP):Arrangements have been finalized for effective monitoring and successful conduct of the anti-polio campaign in Bahawalpur district.

Commissioner Irfan Ali Kathia formally inaugurated the four-day anti-polio campaign by administering polio drops to children at the Outpatient Department of Bahawal Victoria Hospital.

Speaking on the occasion, Commissioner Irfan Ali Kathia said, “Every child protected, Pakistan free of polio is our resolve.” He said complete eradication of polio was a collective responsibility and all available resources would be utilized to make Bahawalpur a polio-free district. He made it clear that negligence or laxity would not be tolerated during the anti-polio campaign and strict monitoring of the performance of polio teams and vaccination coverage would be ensured.

The meeting was informed that the anti-polio campaign in Bahawalpur district would continue from September 21 to 24, 2026, with a target of administering polio drops to 505,000 children. Mobile polio teams will visit households to administer vaccine drops to children, while fixed and transit teams will also perform duties at health centres, bus terminals, railway stations and other important locations. Mobile, fixed and transit teams have been constituted for the campaign, while 402 area in-charges and monitoring officers at the union council level will supervise the campaign. Special arrangements have been made for effective monitoring of polio teams, verification of vaccination coverage and reaching children who may have been missed. Particular attention will be given to high-risk areas, nomadic settlements and children who have received no or zero doses of polio vaccine, ensuring that no child is left without vaccination.

Commissioner Kathia directed the concerned officers and polio teams to ensure vaccination of children through door-to-door visits and maintain effective field monitoring to achieve the assigned target. He said the goal of complete polio eradication could only be achieved by ensuring that every child received polio vaccine. Assistant Commissioner Bahawalpur Iqra Mubeen, Director Health Services Dr. Syed Tanveer Shah, Medical Superintendent Bahawal Victoria Hospital Dr. Abdul Rehman, Chief Executive Officer Health Dr. Zeeshan Rauf, doctors, paramedical staff and other relevant officers were present on the occasion.