Balochistan prepares for three-day anti-polio drive amid tight security

Quetta : Pakistan's Balochistan province is all set to participate in three-day anti-polio vaccination campaign, which begins on Monday amid security measures.

Over 2.3 million children below the age of five will be given the vaccination during the campaign.

Dr Syed Saifur Rehman, the coordinator of the Emergency Polio Cell, said that over 6,000 mobile teams, 820 fixed and 334 transit points have been established across the province to administer vaccines, reports the Dawn.

Rehman urged the people from all walks of life, including religious scholars and political parties, to support the government's efforts against the crippling virus.

"Enough is enough, we have to eradicate this virus from Balochistan. We are launching the campaign amid tight security," the Dawn quoted him as saying.

Meanwhile, the provincial government has stepped up its security measures directing all deputy commissioners and police officers to ensure protection of polio officials.

Apart from the police, Balochistan Constabulary and Frontier Corps will also be deployed to guard teams across the province.

Over the years, polio teams and volunteers have been repeatedly targeted by the terrorists, one of the major hindrances in government's effort to wipe polio.

Earlier this year in Quetta, at least 15 people, including 12 policemen and a paramilitary soldier, were killed in a suicide bombing targeting polio workers.