PESHAWAR - In a bid to help eradicate polio from Fata, all the political agents (PAs) of tribal areas have been directed to sensitise the masses regarding the importance of vaccination so as to address the challenge on war footings.
These directives were issued at a high level meeting chaired by Additional Chief Secretary Fata Dr Tashfeen Khan. The meeting was held at Fata secretariat. They reviewed various steps for eradication of polio from Fata, early start of construction work on the site of Fata University. Various schemes in health, education and road sectors were also approved for ensuring rapid development of the tribal areas of Pakistan.
On the special instruction of the Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the meeting was held in which it reviewed various issues pertaining to Fata in detail. Speaking on this occasion, Dr Tashfeen Khan, Additional Chief Secretary Fata said that promotion of education and provision of improved health services to the tribal communities are the top priority areas for the government. He informed the meeting that the Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has issued instruction for taking extraordinary measures to eradicate polio from the tribal areas.
For the purpose, all the Political Agents have been directed to sensitize the public regarding the importance of polio vaccination to their children so that this challenge is addressed on war footing grounds. He further added that due to remote locations and less road networks in Fata, the government has started mobile health unit project with the aim to extend health facilities to the people at their doorsteps. He informed that the in order to further strengthen the mobile health system inclusion of the programme in the Annual Developmental Programme is under consideration.
The meeting reviewed and stressed the early completion of various ongoing projects and approved several new developmental schemes including provision of Oxygen and establishment of solar energy powered cold storage facility for preservation of vaccines in three Agency HQs hospital of Fata. A number of new schemes in roads sector for Mohmand Agency including construction of road from Ghalani to Gandhab was also approved which will ensure smooth and swift communication facilities to the local communities. The meeting was attended by Shakil Qadir Khan, Secretary P&D Fata and other senior officers of health and education departments.