A province-wise comprehensive anti-polio campaign will be launched by the Punjab government and Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has approved to launch an anti-polio drive every month during the current year. This campaign would be started from February 17 to administer anti-polio drops to twenty million children in the province. While presiding over the meeting of the provincial task force for the eradication of polio at his office, the chief minister directed to give particular attention to high-risk districts. The health department, as well as the district administration, should ensure 100 percent implementation on the anti-polio plan and work hard to achieve the desired results, he added. Active participation of the local community including elected representatives and lumberdars is equally important to achieve the anti-polio targets. He expressed the concern that surfacing of polio cases in some districts is alarming and emphasized that local administration will have to efficiently deal with it in such areas. The Deputy Commissioners should proactively work for the eradication of polio, he directed. He warned that no leniency will be tolerated and action will be taken in case of any negligence in implementation of the anti-polio plan. I will review anti-polio measures every month, he added. The chief minister also expressed the displeasure that meetings about anti-polio measures are not regularly held by some Deputy Commissioners and made it clear that such DCs will be held answerable. Administering of anti-polio drops to all the children should be ensured during this campaign as it’s a national issue which requires joint efforts, he said. Eradication of polio is a noble cause and this disease will be completely eradicated with collected efforts, concluded the chief minister. Provincial secretary primary and secondary healthcare gave a briefing about polio cases, anti-polio measures and campaign targets. Provincial ministers Dr Yasmin Rashid, Fayyaz-ul-Hasan Chohan, Murad Raas, Mussarat Jamshed Cheema MPA, Chief Secretary, Commissioner Lahore Division, representatives of UNICEF, WHO and others attended the meeting. Commissioners, DCs and CEOs of district health authorities attended the meeting through video link.
