In a significant step towards eradicating polio, the Punjab government is introducing geo-tagging technology to monitor migrant populations during its upcoming anti-polio vaccination drive, set to launch on Monday. This initiative aligns with Pakistan’s broader campaign to vaccinate over 23.3 million children under five.
Punjab’s provincial task force on polio eradication convened on Saturday to finalize strategies, with a focus on vaccinating children from migrant families at key entry and transit points across the province. To bolster the drive, the Health Department has mobilized 4,888 permanent vaccination teams and an additional 2,654 transit teams, extending coverage to urban and rural areas.
Officials highlight that these vaccination points aim to bridge immunity gaps among children, particularly those in high-risk zones.
Pakistan Records 41st Polio Case in 2024
In related news, Pakistan’s Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) confirmed the country’s 41st polio case for 2024 on Friday. The case involves a child from the Loralai District in Balochistan who displayed symptoms of paralysis on October 8. This marks the first reported case in Loralai this year and contributes to the 21 cases in Balochistan, alongside 12 in Sindh, six in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each in Punjab and Islamabad.
Health officials continue to intensify anti-polio efforts nationwide, aiming to contain the virus, especially in vulnerable regions.
