LAHORE: Punjab remained polio free during 2016, however, one case of polio has been reported in the current year, due to which a five-day anti-polio campaign has been launched across the province from May 15. This was stated by Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Kh Imran Nazir while talking to the media at the Children Hospital after inaugurating the anti-polio campaign on Monday. He said that joint and consolidated efforts were required to eliminate diseases from the country, and all stakeholders should work together for this national cause without indulging in politics. He said that eradication of polio was the top priority of the federal government, and that Punjab was endeavoring hard to achieve this goal. The minister inaugurated the anti-polio campaign by administering polio vaccine to the children. Children Hospital Medical Director Dr Ahsan Waheed Rathor said on that occasion that if a single polio case existed in any corner of the world, it would be a threat to all the children. The health minister informed the media that during the five days of the anti-polio campaign, around 18.6 million children of below five years of age would be administered polio drops, for which Primary and Secondary Health Department had constituted 45,584 teams, consisting of two members each. “Out of them, 38,699 are mobile teams, which will visit door to door for giving polio drops to children, whereas 4,480 are fixed teams deputed in the hospitals and health facilities, while 2,405 polio teams have been assigned duty to administer polio drops to the children – coming from other provinces – at the transit points.” He said that security had been provided to the polio teams in sensitive and tribal areas. Moreover, he said that the chief secretary and the Punjab Police IG had ordered that police should be on high alert during polio campaign, adding that police patrolling had also been beefed up. The minister said that other provincial governments should also launch intensive polio campaigns with full political commitment so that the virus could be eliminated from Pakistan. He also urged parents to ensure that their children were administered polio drops during the campaign. He said that people should cooperate with the polio teams coming to their homes, for a healthy future of their children.