Gujranwala – A five-day National Anti-Polio Campaign has officially started in Gujranwala. The campaign was launched on April 21st and will continue until April 25th.
The inauguration ceremony took place at the Maternity Home Hospital in Satellite Town, where Commissioner Naveed Haider Shirazi and Deputy Commissioner Naveed Ahmed cut the ribbon and gave polio drops to children to kick off the campaign.
According to Deputy Commissioner Naveed Ahmed, all preparations for the campaign have been completed. The goal is to vaccinate 982,184 children under the age of five in Gujranwala.
To achieve this, the Health Department has created:
3,825 mobile teams
161 fixed teams
73 transit teams
These teams will be working door-to-door, and also at places like health centers, railway stations, bus stands, and wagon stands, said Commissioner Shirazi.
Deputy Commissioner Naveed Ahmed shared that special focus will be given to:
Nomadic settlements
High-risk union councils
Children who missed earlier doses
Children who have never received a polio vaccine (zero-dose children)
He stressed that every child must be vaccinated to help eliminate polio from Pakistan. “Ending polio is in the national interest and key to protecting our children’s future,” he added.
MPA Muhammad Nawaz Chauhan also spoke at the event. He encouraged everyone in society to support the campaign and said that the Chief Minister of Punjab is personally monitoring the campaign to ensure its success.
The launch ceremony was attended by many officials, including CEO Health Dr. Moeed Mansoor, and representatives from WHO and UNICEF.
This campaign is a major step toward a polio-free Pakistan, and the cooperation of all citizens is crucial.
