JAFARABAD: Deputy Commissioner Khalid Khan has chaired a high-level meeting to finalize preparations for a four-day anti-polio campaign set to begin on October 13th.
The meeting, attended by District Health Officer Dr. Shaukat Ali Khosa, representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Lady Health Workers Program, and other departments, reviewed all logistical and security arrangements to ensure the campaign’s success.
District Health Officer Dr. Shaukat Ali Khosa briefed the attendees, confirming that all necessary preparations are complete. This includes the training of field staff, the formation of polio teams, and comprehensive security plans. During the campaign, health workers will administer polio drops door-to-door to all children under the age of five.
Deputy Commissioner Khalid Khan emphasized the campaign as a national responsibility and directed all departments to ensure no child is missed. He urged parents to cooperate fully with the polio teams to protect future generations from the debilitating disease.
The Deputy Commissioner also warned that the performance of the field teams would be closely monitored and that any negligence would not be tolerated. He instructed all officers to immediately report any issues to the district control room for swift resolution.
Also read; Naseerabad DC orders strict monitoring for Polio eradication
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti met UNICEF Country Representative in Pakistan, Pernille Ironside, to discuss polio eradication, routine immunization, education, and health initiatives in the province.
Bugti said effective coordination would strengthen public welfare initiatives and praised UNICEF for offering technical support and staff training to build the capacity of the provincial Health Department.
He emphasized that Balochistan values international partners’ support in health and education projects. He noted that the government has intensified efforts to eradicate polio and expand immunization campaigns while introducing large-scale reforms in both sectors.
The Chief Minister said the province has allocated exceptional resources for primary health care and continues contract-based hiring to address workforce shortages.
He reported that the government reopened 3,200 closed schools in the past year and plans to establish 1,200 new community schools this year. He pledged that no school would remain closed by the end of the year.
Bugti added that authorities are monitoring potential flood risks in districts bordering Sindh and are finalizing preventive measures in those areas.
He also highlighted ongoing steps to empower women, including the creation of Balochistan’s first Women Economic Empowerment Endowment Fund.
UNICEF’s Ironside reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to support Balochistan in health and education, stressing that children’s welfare remains a top priority.
