Metro53 - Jhelum: A three-day special anti-polio campaign was launched in Jhelum as part of Punjab’s commitment to the complete eradication of the disease.
The campaign was inaugurated at the District Headquarters Hospital by Punjab Health Adviser Gen (retd) Azhar Mahmood Kiani along with Deputy Commissioner Jhelum Mir Raza Ozgan. Officials from various health departments and representatives of field teams were also present on the occasion. A detailed briefing was given on the national anti-polio strategy and local arrangements for the campaign.
Addressing the ceremony, Gen (retd) Azhar Mahmood Kiani said the government was utilising all available resources to eliminate polio. He termed polio a serious challenge and stressed that parents’ cooperation was essential for its eradication. He directed health teams to ensure door-to-door coverage so that no child is left without polio drops.
Sharing details of the campaign, Deputy Commissioner Mir Raza Ozgan said the drive would continue from December 15 to December 18. He said a target had been set to administer polio drops to 228,908 children under the age of five in the district.
He added that comprehensive arrangements had been finalised across all 56 union councils of the district. A total of 1,094 mobile teams, 74 fixed teams and 24 transit teams would perform duties during the campaign, covering residential areas, entry and exit points, and remote locations.
The deputy commissioner urged parents and guardians to fully cooperate with polio teams, warning that even minor negligence could undermine national efforts. He said sustained and well-organised campaigns were key to making Pakistan polio-free, and that every citizen had a role to play in achieving this goal.
