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QUETTA: The latest polio immunisation campaign has so far covered 81% children in Balochistan, while nearly 10,000 parents refused to get their children vaccinated against the crippling disease, according to the province’s top health official.
“We expect more than 98% coverage once the data is finalised as field workers are still working hard to ensure every child below the age of five is vaccinated,” Director General Health Naseer Baloch told a news conference at the Quetta press club on Saturday. He was flanked by District Health Officer (DHO) Ahmed Sher Satakzai and WHO Representative Anwar Bugti.
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Baloch was annoyed over a media report which claimed that the latest vaccination campaign conducted from November 10 to 13 missed more than 27,000 children. “This is incorrect. The local media should show some responsibility while covering such important issues,” he added.
At least 17,465 children were not available at their houses while parents of 9,958 children refused to administer polio drops during the drive in Quetta, he said. “Our target was to administer anti-polio drops to 481,587 children in Quetta zone. The health department has taken the campaign seriously and will ensure more than 98% children are vaccinated,” he added.
Giving details, Baloch said, “Out of the total 17,465 children, 12,473 children were inoculated during the three-day campaign – the rest were not available at their homes.”
Commenting on the troubled areas of Balochistan, Baloch said health workers were reaching out to every child but there were some mountainous regions where they were facing difficulties in vaccinating children.
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At least 11 polio cases have been confirmed this year in Quetta zone, which comprises Quetta Valley, Pishin and Qila Abdullah. “Poliovirus still exists in the environment which is why vaccinations campaigns are carried out thrice a month,” DHO Satakzai told reporters.
Responding to a question, he said that the first case in Balochistan was reported from Qila Abdullah in which the family of the affected child had come from Karachi. The Quetta police have increased security of vaccinators following threats, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2014.
