Seven-Day Anti-Polio campaign to vaccinate 2.3 million children across 32 districts 

Seven-Day Anti-Polio campaign to vaccinate 2.3 million children across 32 districts

 

QUETTA, A seven-day anti-polio campaign will commence across 32 districts of Balochistan from Monday, September 21, 2026, during which nearly 2.3 million children under the age of five will be administered polio drops.

 

According to Emergency Operation Center (EOC) Balochistan Coordinator Inam ul Haq, all preparations have been finalized, and a total of 9,193 vaccination teams have been constituted. The campaign will also include 621 fixed-site teams and 392 transit-point teams deployed at key travel and movement locations to ensure maximum coverage.

 

The campaign will be carried out in districts including Barkhan, Chagai, Dera Bugti North, Dera Bugti South, Duki, Gwadar, Hub, Jaffarabad, Jhal Magsi, Kalat, Kech, Khuzdar, Killa Saifullah, Lasbela, Loralai, Musakhel, Naseerabad, Noshki, Sibi, Sherani, Sohbatpur, Usta Muhammad, Wadh, Zhob, Ziarat, Quetta East, Quetta West, Killa Abdullah, Mastung, Barshore, Pishin, and Chaman.

 

Environmental surveillance in August detected two positive samples of poliovirus — one from Chaman and another from Zhob. The EOC clarified that the virus found in these samples is not indigenous to Balochistan but has links to neighboring provinces and Afghanistan.

 

Coordinator Inam ul Haq stressed that poliovirus remains present in the environment, posing a continuous threat to children. He emphasized that repeated vaccination is essential to stop transmission and protect children from permanent disability.

 

He appealed to parents and caregivers to fully cooperate with frontline polio workers and ensure that every child under five receives polio drops during the campaign. He also urged civil society, teachers, and religious leaders to play their role in raising awareness and encouraging parents to vaccinate their children.