Balochistan on Monday opened its fifth seven-day polio campaign in Balochistan of the year, aiming to give drops to more than 2.2 million children under five across 31 districts. Health Secretary Mujeebur Rehman announced the start in Quetta and linked the push to worry that polio could move across the border from Afghanistan, where more than 50 cases have been reported this year.
He said the risk of cross-border transmission is highest around Chaman and Qila Abdullah. More than 8,880 vaccination teams have been sent out to cover children under five during the week-long exercise.
Border areas and surveillance
Speaking at the inauguration, Mr Rehman said districts that share a frontier with Afghanistan, and sensitive belts near Punjab, are getting special attention. He warned that frequent travel between the two countries can help the virus move, so stronger surveillance and carefully targeted vaccination are essential.
Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Balochistan Coordinator Inamul Haq and Quetta District Health Officer Dr Aimal Mandokhail attended the launch. The EOC is the provincial control room that coordinates emergency health responses, including polio drives.
Two years without a case
Mr Rehman said Balochistan has reported no polio cases in the past 24 months. Environmental samples collected last month also tested negative. He credited sustained work by health authorities and vaccination teams, but said the province must not become complacent.
He cautioned that children facing malnutrition or other health problems could be especially vulnerable if the virus returned. Teams were told to work carefully and leave no eligible child unreached, and he stressed that routine immunisation—the regular childhood vaccine schedule—must continue alongside special campaigns if protection is to last.
What officials are asking of communities
Parents, teachers, religious scholars and community leaders were urged to back the drive and encourage every family with a child under five to accept the drops. Mr Rehman said ending polio needs joint effort from the government, health authorities, international partners and the public, and that available resources would be used to keep the province polio-free.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Past 24 months: Balochistan reported no polio cases, according to the health secretary.
- Last month: Environmental samples from the province tested negative.
- This year: Afghanistan has reported more than 50 polio cases; Balochistan is running its fifth seven-day campaign.
- Monday: The latest drive was launched in Quetta, with more than 8,880 teams covering 31 districts.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Balochistan mein ek haftay ki polio mhem shuru ho gayi hai. Do crore bees lakh se zyada paanch saal se kam umar ke bachon ko drops di jayengi. Afghanistan mein is saal pachas se zyada cases ki wajah se border areas par khas nazar hai. Waledain ko chahiye ke paanch saal se kam umar ke bachon ko drops zaroor dilwayen.
