Pakistan will launch a sub-national anti-polio campaign in 97 selected districts from November 2 to 8 to protect children under five against the virus, it was reported on Monday.
The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) said that more than 23.9 million children under the age of five will be administered polio drops during the week-long campaign across the country.
In Punjab, the campaign will cover 13 districts, targeting over 9.27 million children. In Sindh, more than 6.88 million children across 20 districts will receive polio drops, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will target over 4.8 million children in 27 districts.
In Balochistan, the campaign will cover 31 districts, with more than 2.21 million children targeted for vaccination. The campaign will also reach over 447,000 children in Islamabad, more than 153,000 in three districts of Gilgit-Baltistan and over 183,000 in two districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The NEOC has urged parents to ensure that all children under five receive polio drops during the upcoming campaign and cooperate with vaccination teams.
The centre said that protecting children against polio is a shared national responsibility and that repeated vaccination during every campaign is essential to eradicate the virus from Pakistan.
