An anti-polio campaign began in Hyderabad on Monday. On this occasion, an international observer has stressed the need to increase tracking of unvaccinated children with the start of the seven-day polio eradication campaign.
Michael Gallaway, representing the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, reviewed the ongoing drive after attending the inaugural ceremony at CDF Hospital. While he praised the planning and strategy for the campaign, he underscored the necessity of improving the reporting and monitoring of refusal, missed, and absent cases to achieve comprehensive immunisation coverage.
The campaign was formally kicked off by Deputy Commissioner Zain-ul-Abedin Memon, who directed the concerned authorities to ensure all children under the age of five are vaccinated without exception. He echoed the observer”s concerns, stressing that a special focus must be given to missed and refusal cases.
The Deputy Commissioner added that Hyderabad is actively contributing to the global initiative to eradicate polio and highlighted the need to further mobilise field teams for the effective implementation of the drive.