Three-day anti-polio drive to begin in Pakistan

Islamabad, March 13: Over 2.3 million children below the age of five will be given anti-polio drops from Monday during a three-day vaccination campaign in Balochistan province of Pakistan.

Authorities have taken strict measures in the province to ensure that the campaign runs smoothly, Dawn online reported.

Over 6,000 mobile teams, 820 fixed and 334 transit points were established across the province to administer vaccines, Syed Saifur Rehman, coordinator of the Emergency Polio Cell, said.

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

"Enough is enough, we have to eradicate this virus from Balochistan," he said.

"We are launching the campaign amid tight security," the coordinator said.

Polio teams and volunteers have been a repeated target of terrorist attacks over the years -- a major hindrance in the government's efforts to wipe out the virus.

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

IANS