Negligence in Polio campaign in Balochistan criticized

QUETTA - The Health Minister of Balochistan - Rahmat Saleh Baloch has warned the officials against any kind of negligence in the polio campaigns.

According to a statement reported in the media, the minister directed the concerned health authorities to ensure coordination with the district health officers (DHOs) for the success of polio campaigns in the province.

His statement came a day after the polio virus was found in a 26-month-old child from the Barabcha area in the Chaghi district of Balochistan, the first case of the crippling disease in 2015.

The provincial minister took serious notice over detection of a new polio case and sought a detailed report from the director general health in this regard.

The health minister said that the present government is taking practical measures for the eradication of crippling disease.

A total of 22 polio cases were reported from Balochistan, last year. However, efforts made by the government to eradicate the crippling virus in the province have been badly hit by attacks on polio teams by militants.