Pakistan launches countrywide anti

The Pakistani government launched a countrywide anti-polio campaign on Monday with a target to vaccinate over 24 million children, said an official.

Coordinator to the Prime Minister on the National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath said in a statement that the government is committed to ensuring that all children are protected from this terrible disease.

"Poliovirus has been detected in multiple sewage samples in the country in recent months, which means this virus remains a serious threat to children's wellbeing," said Bharath.

The coordinator urged the people to come forward and get their children vaccinated. "We are sending polio teams to your homes, so make sure to open your door to vaccinators and get your child vaccinated," said the coordinator.

The vaccination campaign to immunize more than 24 million children under the age of five against poliovirus was launched in 91 districts of the country, added the official.

The campaign started in the country's capital Islamabad, 10 districts of eastern Punjab province, 24 districts of southern Sindh, 26 districts of northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 30 districts of southwest Balochistan province.

Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Center for Polio Eradication Shahzad Baig said that the government will continue to run regular vaccination campaigns because authorities have detected the virus in over 31 districts of the country.