DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Commissioner Dera Ismail Khan Division Zafar Ul Islam has said here yesterday that all efforts should be made to ensure the achievement of goals during the anti-polio campaign. He gave these instructions while addressing the division-wide arrangements and review meeting regarding anti-polio campaign. In the meeting, Regional Police Officer Nasir Mehmood Satti, Deputy Commissioner Dera Ismail Khan while Deputy Commissioners Tank, South Waziristan (Upper) and South Waziristan (Lower) online and Secretary to Commissioner, N Stop Officers, DHCSOs, Health Department , Local Government, WHO, EPI and other relevant department officers participated. During the meeting, a detailed briefing was given to commissioner and told about the arrangements for the upcoming campaign including the performance of the previous campaigns Considering the security situation, the campaign will be launched in Dera Ismail Khan district from the 8th of this month and in the southern districts of the division from the 15th of this month. It was further informed that since the month of February, the environmental sample has come negative in Dera Ismail Khan district, while the sample has come positive in Tank district in November. However, this strain of the virus is consistent with the strain previously reported in Karachi.
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Arrangements have been completed for the anti-polio campaign that started on the 8th in Dera Ismail Khan district these include team trainings, micro-plans and security arrangements. Mentioning the problems faced regarding the anti-polio campaign, it was said that various challenges are being faced including security, shortage of EPI staff and delay in salaries of various staff. On which Commissioner Dera issued immediate orders that all concerned Deputy Commissioners should ensure the payment of anti-polio staff. Similarly, sufficient measures should be taken to protect the anti-polio teams, so that they can perform their services without fear and danger. He directed the police department to ensure full implementation of the security plan prepared for the anti-polio campaign while all concerned officials should perform their duties diligently and so as not only to ensure achievement of targets during the anti-polio campaign but also to ensure maximum coverage and that no child up to the age of five years will suffer lifelong disability by missing out on anti-polio drops. He appealed to all the parents to give anti-polio drops to all their children up to five years of age during every anti-polio campaign, so that not only to save our children from being crippled, but also to realize the dream of eradicating deadly viruses like polio forever
