RAWALPINDI: As many as 2,000 police personnel have been deployed to provide security cover to teams during the five-day polio vaccination campaign, launched on Monday.

The campaign will go on until Jan 15.

Provincial minister Raja Rashid Hafeez along with Rawalpindi commissioner, deputy commissioner and regional police officer (RPO) were present.

RPO Imran Ahmer inaugurated the campaign at basic health unit Khota Kalan.

A target for vaccination has been set for which 3,400 polio teams have formed. The DC has urged citizens to cooperate with the vaccination teams.

“Through vaccination, we can lay the foundation for a healthy society by protecting our children from lifelong disability,” the RPO said, adding special security arrangements have been made for members of the teams.

CPO Mohammad Ahsan Younis administered polio drops to children at Masood Shaheed Hospital in Police Lines Rawalpindi.

Meanwhile, teams from Murree Health Department will also be conducting door-to-door polio immunisation campaigns for children under the age of five across the tehsil, Deputy Director (Health) Dr Azhar Abbasi said.

In their message to people at the launch, Mr Azhar and Tehsil Health Inspector Rana Karamat Ali said that the campaign will be closely monitored.

They urged people to play their part in the eradication of polio from the country, adding millions of children will be administered polio drops in the city and 14 union councils of Murree town.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2021