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ISLAMABAD: A week-long anti-polio sub-national campaign kicked off across the country today, ARY News reported, citing the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC).<\/strong><\/p>\n According to the NEOC, the anti-polio drive is underway in 97 selected districts nationwide.<\/p>\n A whopping 200,000 frontline workers are conducting door-to-door visits to administer polio drops to children. As per the NEOC, a target of immunizing 20.4 million children has been set for this campaign.<\/p>\n Notably, the campaign is being launched simultaneously in Pakistan and Afghanistan.<\/p>\n The NEOC has urged parents nationwide to ensure that children aged five years or younger receive the polio drops. Highlighting the key benefit of the drive, the NEOC noted that repeatedly administering polio drops significantly strengthens children\u2019s immune systems.<\/p>\n Prime Minister\u2019s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Message on the polio campaign\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Earlier, Prime Minister\u2019s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq has called on parents to ensure that all children under five years of age receive polio vaccine drops during the upcoming nationwide sub-national vaccination campaign from November 2 to 8.<\/p>\n She said polio eradication was a national responsibility and a key priority of the Government of Pakistan, emphasizing that protecting children\u2019s health and well-being remained a foremost priority.<\/p>\n She said polio was a dangerous disease that could cause lifelong paralysis, adding that although there was no cure for the disease, vaccination could protect children against it.<\/p>\n The campaign will be conducted in 97 selected districts across the country, targeting approximately 24 million children for vaccination.<\/p>\n Ayesha Raza Farooq urged parents to extend full cooperation to polio vaccination teams and ensure that their children receive the vaccine during the campaign.<\/p>\n She emphasized that vaccination during every campaign was essential to provide complete protection against the poliovirus.<\/p>\n She said seven polio cases had been reported in the country so far this year, with the majority originating from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.<\/p>\n Reaffirming the government\u2019s commitment, she said efforts would continue until the complete eradication of poliovirus from Pakistan.<\/p>\n