Polio immunisation drive begins in Balochistan

Published September 4, 2014
A girl shows her finger marked with ink after taking polio drops.
A girl shows her finger marked with ink after taking polio drops.
According to District Health Officer Dr Abdul Ghaffar Baloch, the immunisation target is 134,000 children for this campaign.
According to District Health Officer Dr Abdul Ghaffar Baloch, the immunisation target is 134,000 children for this campaign.
Health worker gives polio drops to a child in Civil hospital, Chaman.
Health worker gives polio drops to a child in Civil hospital, Chaman.
Polio workers gives drops to a child in Civil hospital. The number of female workers is still very less due to tribal pressures, said WHO officer in Chaman, Dr Shamsullah Kakar.
Polio workers gives drops to a child in Civil hospital. The number of female workers is still very less due to tribal pressures, said WHO officer in Chaman, Dr Shamsullah Kakar.
A polio worker writes the date and signs on the wall of a house, an indication that the children in that house had been given vaccination.
A polio worker writes the date and signs on the wall of a house, an indication that the children in that house had been given vaccination.
Health worker giving the polio drop to a child at civil hospital Chaman.
Health worker giving the polio drop to a child at civil hospital Chaman.
Polio vaccinator marks the finger of a child after giving vaccination. According to the health worker, there is a strong tribal system in Chaman and most families bring their children for vaccination barring few who have children aged below six months. It is much harder to reach the younger children.
Polio vaccinator marks the finger of a child after giving vaccination. According to the health worker, there is a strong tribal system in Chaman and most families bring their children for vaccination barring few who have children aged below six months. It is much harder to reach the younger children.
A security guard is overlooking the vaccination conducted on the Pak-Afghan border. Drops are being given to children coming from Afghanistan.
A security guard is overlooking the vaccination conducted on the Pak-Afghan border. Drops are being given to children coming from Afghanistan.

A three-day polio vaccination campaign began in Balochistan’s city Chaman, which has a border link with Afghanistan. According to Unicef statistics, Pakistan contributed 70 per cent polio cases to the world during the year 2014.

Earlier this year, vaccinations were conducted on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border as a step towards cross-border coordination between the two countries to eradicate polio.

Keeping in mind the previous cases of attack on polio workers, security has been tightened during the campaign. Assistant Commissioner Izzat Nazir Baloch said security teams have been assigned to patrol the area where the polio vaccinators are working.

According to District Health Officer Dr Abdul Ghaffar Baloch 330 teams are working in 27 union councils, with two members in each team.

Only five female teams are working in Chaman, solely in the Eidgah union council, who are going door-to-door for vaccination, said union council polio worker Asadullah who has been appointed by WHO.

Female polio worker Bibi Ghazala said she was working in the Eidgah union council as it is inside the city which is safer than the outskirts.

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