Over 1,700 teams deployed for anti-polio campaign in Abbottabad: Dr. Shahzad Iqbal

ABBOTTABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Apr, 2026) District Health Officer Abbottabad, Dr. Shahzad Iqbal, said on Monday that all children under the age of five must be administered polio drops during the national anti-polio campaign being carried out from April 13 to April 16.

While speaking to the media, he stated that children are also being given Vitamin A capsules along with polio vaccination to improve their immunity and overall health.

He said that environmental samples in Abbottabad had remained negative for the polio virus for several months. However, as the district is an important tourist destination, the virus was detected in environmental samples some time ago, after which precautionary measures were strengthened and regular campaigns were launched. As a result, recent samples have once again tested negative.

Dr. Shahzad Iqbal urged citizens to actively participate in the campaign, saying that the people of Abbottabad are educated and responsible and should fulfill their national duty.

He informed that a total of 1,708 teams are participating in the campaign across 54 union councils, including 61 Union Council Medical Officers, 360 area in-charges, 1,569 mobile teams, 91 fixed teams, 43 transit teams, and 5 roaming teams.

He added that a third-party monitoring system is also in place to ensure transparency and effectiveness.

He said that all teams have been fully trained, and the Health Department, in coordination with the district administration and police, is making all-out efforts to ensure the success of the campaign.

Dr. Shahzad Iqbal appealed to parents to ignore rumors and misinformation and ensure that their children are given polio drops, emphasizing that polio is an incurable disease and vaccination is the only protection.

He warned that refusal to vaccinate children would result in strict legal action under the law.

Highlighting maternal and child health, he said that mother’s milk has no substitute and warned that increased use of formula milk is weakening children’s immunity. He urged mothers to prioritize breastfeeding for the healthy growth and development of newborns.