Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar has approved a monthly anti-polio campaign for 2020. The year-long campaign aims to administer polio vaccines to 20 million children across the province.
CM Punjab made this decision on Tuesday while presiding over a meeting of the provincial task force on polio eradication at his office.
ALSO READ
Bill Gates Hails PM Imran Khan for Anti-Poverty Initiative
During the meeting, CM Buzdar directed his team to pay extra attention to high-risk districts.
He expressed concerns over the reports of polio cases from certain districts and said that the district administration has to work in collaboration with the health department to control the disease.
The health department, as well as the district administration, must ensure full implementation on the anti-polio plan and work hard to achieve the desired results.
ALSO READ
Pakistan’s First Polio Rehab Center Opens in Hayatabad
Buzdar also reprimanded the deputy commissioners of certain districts for not holding meetings about anti-polio measures.
The CM warned the authorities that leniency will not be tolerated and that strict action will be taken against those showing negligence. He further announced to review the progress of the drive on a monthly basis.
The chief minister says that polio is a national issue that requires joint efforts from all concerned departments.
The meeting was attended by the provincial Minister for Health, Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Minister for Information and Culture, Fayyazul Hasan Chohan, and Minister for School Education, Murad Raas.
ALSO READ
Govt Increases Polio Vaccine Age Limit to 10 Years
Besides, the Chief Secretary Azam Suleman Khan, Lahore Division Commissioner Asif Bilal Lodhi, representatives of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, World Health Organisation and others were also present. Meanwhile, Commissioners, deputy commissioners, and CEOs of district health authorities joined through video link.
