Polio immunisation campaign enters final round in Punjab
LAHORE: The third national polio immunisation campaign of the year, deemed critical for interrupting the ongoing poliovirus transmission, has entered its final phase in Punjab. As of Thursday, polio teams visited house-to-house during the designated catch-up days to reach children who were missed in earlier days of vaccination.
In major urban centers and high-risk districts classified as 'mega districts,' the campaign will continue for a full 7 days, concluding on Sunday. In other districts across the province, the drive will run for 5 days and end on Friday (tomorrow). This campaign is especially significant given the onset of the high poliovirus transmission season, which typically lasts from May through September, coinciding with hot and humid conditions that are conducive to virus survival and spread.
The timing of the campaign is also strategic, preceding the Eid holidays — a period marked by extensive human mobility. This increased movement raises the risk of virus transmission from one region to another, particularly affecting unvaccinated or immunocompromised children. These children are at heightened risk of contracting and spreading the virus, potentially undermining the gains made in previous immunization rounds.
In the first three days alone, frontline polio workers successfully vaccinated over 15 million children under the age of five. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Coordinator, Adeel Tasawar, urged teams to intensify efforts during the catch-up days, emphasizing the importance of revisiting homes where children were missed. 'Achieving high coverage is key to boosting herd immunity,' he stated, 'ensuring the poliovirus has no sanctuary in our communities.'
Tasawar called on caregivers and parents to cooperate with polio teams and report any missed children or related issues by contacting the national helpline at 1166. He praised polio workers as national heroes, recognizing their tireless efforts to go door-to-door with the sole mission of eradicating polio from Pakistan.
'They deserve respect, support, and a glass of water if needed,' he added, encouraging the public to honor their dedication.
He also lauded the vital role of civil society, which has provided extensive moral support to polio workers, particularly in areas with difficult terrain or security challenges. He reaffirmed the government's unwavering commitment to achieving a polio-free Pakistan, stating that complete eradication is not only a public health priority but a moral responsibility to future generations.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
20 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Experts warn obesity resulting in many diseases
KARACHI: Calling obesity a full-blown epidemic that has engulfed Pakistan in recent years, leading gastroenterologists and liver specialists have warned that excess body weight is now the leading cause of fatty liver disease, liver failure, and a major reason for the rising demand for liver transplants in the country. Urging people to adopt healthy eating habits and become physically active to avoid premature deaths and costly medical interventions, experts also warned that unhealthy lifestyles and obesity are contributing to an alarming rise in colorectal cancer cases among the relatively young population in Pakistan. They were speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the 7th Annual Conference of the Pakistan GI and Liver Disease Society (PGLDS) at a local hotel, which brought together local and international experts despite ongoing global unrest. Dr Lubna Kamani, President of PGLDS, stressed that obesity is now deeply intertwined with fatty liver disease and a wide range of gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. 'While we now have new medications available for obesity and fatty liver, prevention is still the best strategy. We must eat less but healthy and stay physically active,' she said, while also pointing to a sharp increase in colorectal cancer among young adults, which she linked to unhealthy dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles. 'We need to immediately launch a national colorectal screening program in Pakistan before this silent threat claims more lives.' Addressing the gathering as chief guest, Sindh Health Secretary Rehan Iqbal Baloch welcomed delegates from across the country and acknowledged the serious challenges patients face in accessing GI and liver care. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Deaths from Congo virus
Listen to article Just this week, five fatal cases of the Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), commonly called Congo fever, have been reported in the country. Three of the deaths happened in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and two in Karachi. The deaths in Karachi – of two men ageing 25 and 42 – mark the first in Sindh this year from Congo virus. Both succumbed within days of their diagnoses, highlighting the severity of the disease and the lack of timely intervention, medical preparedness, and public awareness surrounding it. Despite being endemic and officially recognised as a major public health threat, the prevalence of Congo virus is not widely documented in Pakistan. Symptoms of the disease can include fever, muscle pains, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, and even bleeding under the skin. The virus is mainly spread to humans through tick bites or by coming into contact with the blood or tissue of infected animals, which exacerbates its spread during and after the Eid-ul Azha season. This year, roughly 6.8 million animals were sacrificed in Pakistan, according to the Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA). However, the country lacks a proper system required to manage the health and safety risks of such a large-scale event. Livestock are often brought into the city without regulatory health screening and temporary cattle markets are erected without an understanding of biosecurity protocols. The use of gloves, protective clothing and proper disposal of animal waste is advised by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) ahead of the festival but not only are these practices barely observed, they are often considered unnecessary and needless. Unfortunately, prevention and care are the only options for managing the Congo virus as there are no FDA- or WHO-approved drugs for CCHF, or a commercially available vaccine. Therefore, the government must boost its efforts to strengthen surveillance, public awareness and biosecurity measures to prevent wider outbreaks in the future.
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business Recorder
Minister pledges to achieve polio-free future of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that polio eradication is the top priority of the government and federal health ministry along with provincial health departments are fully committed to achieving a polio-free future for children of the country. He made these remarks while virtually attending the joint session of the Gavi Board and the Polio Oversight Board (POB), where he represented the government of Pakistan and shared key updates on national progress in the fight against polio. He highlighted that the prime minister of Pakistan is personally overseeing the polio eradication efforts and chairs monthly stocktake meetings to review progress. Sharing the latest progress, the minister stated, 'Pakistan has witnessed over a 99 percent decline in polio cases a testament to our coordinated strategy, dedication of frontline workers, and the collective efforts of all stakeholders.' He emphasised the implementation of a joint strategy to reach zero-dose children, with mobile biker teams mobilized to access nomadic and hard-to-reach populations. Underscoring the importance of global partnerships, the minister added, 'Strengthening the integrated immunization system requires continued support from both Gavi and the Polio Oversight Board. We need additional investments to ensure the training and retention of vaccinators.' He noted that enhanced synergy between the polio and EPI (Expanded Programme on Immunization) initiatives is improving immunisation coverage, while coordinated microplanning and effective monitoring are delivering tangible results in the field. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
