PESHAWAR – Around 5.2 million children below the age of five-year will be administrated polio drops in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during a three days immunization drive from Monday (October 15), tomorrow.
Following the detection of polio positive cases, a three-day anti-polio drive has been chalked out to cover the entire 25 districts of the province, Dr Janbaz Afridi, Deputy Director Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said while speaking at the EPI three days inaugural ceremony here at Peshawar Press Club on Friday. He informed that a total of 1584 teams have been constituted for the supervision of more than 2,949 areas in-charge to carry out polio eradication campaign in a benefiting manner.
“We are still fighting against the crippling disease of polio due to the influx of people from restive agencies and migration from neighboring country Afghanistan,” he said. However, he said efforts were being made at any level to defeat the disease from country, particularly in this region.
On the occasion other speakers including Dr Jamil, Dr Obaidullah, and Dr Rohullah highlighted the importance of polio drops, which is helpful to safe the future generation from lifetime disability. They urged the media and ulema to play their effective role by sensitising general public, and parents about the benefits of polio vaccines.
Addressing as chief guest at inaugural ceremony, PPP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter President, Anwar Saifullah regretted that most of the polio-affected countries are Muslim countries in which Pakistan is at more venerable position.
He added that combating polio was a daunting task for government in Khyber Paktunkhwa and Fata as most of polio cases are being reported in this region, behind which influx of Afghan refugees and that of internally displaced persons from the restive tribal agencies is the main reason.
Anwar urged tribal elders and religious scholars to play their due role in sensitising people regarding the significance of polio drops, which could safe the future of their children.
He admitted that greater responsibility come on the elected representatives to play their effective role to bring awareness among people in their respective constituencies that would be helpful to elimination the crippling disease.
He also informed that PPP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter would launch a special masses sensitization campaign to highlight the importance of polio vaccination across the province. “I would extend any possible support from party platform to complete eliminate the fatal polio disease from the province”, he assured. Later, chief guest, Anwar Saifullah administered polio drops to a kid to inaugurate three days polio eradication drive in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.