LAHORE: The Provincial Task Force for Polio Eradication has warned that a stern action will be taken against the officials showing negligence and poor performance in the anti-polio campaigns.

The decision was made in a meeting chaired by Primary Healthcare Minister Dr Jamal Nasir and Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman. The meeting also resolved to improve the quality of the anti-polio campaign and revisit the micro-plans to ensure 100 percent coverage of missed children.

Dr Nasir said there was no room for negligence during the anti-polio campaign, and the officials showing repeated poor performance will have to face the music.

The chief secretary said that the polio eradication is a national agenda, adding that action would be taken against the staffers who sent fake data about the polio vaccine administration to the missed children.

The meeting was briefed that the anti-polio campaign would continue from January 8 to 14 in 36 districts of Punjab. Approximately 23.3 million children would be given the polio vaccine during the drive in the province.

More than 84,000 mobile teams have been formed to administer polio vaccine to the children. All environmental samples of polio in Punjab are negative, indicating the success of the ongoing efforts, the meeting was informed.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2024