LAKKI MARWAT: The district health department has decided to engage female schoolteachers in the upcoming anti-polio drive to achieve the target of immunising the population against the crippling disease successfully.
A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting held at the district headquarters complex Tajazai on Saturday.
Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Shahid Sohail presided over the meeting whereas DHO Dr Essa Khan, EPI coordinator Dr Umar Faisal, LHW coordinator Dr Tariq Salim Marwat, DHIS coordinator Dr Kifayat Bettanni, DSP Afsar Khan, district khateeb Maulana Abdul Wahab, ADEO Abdul Rehman Rashid and officials of line departments were also present.
“There is a dearth of lady health workers in several union councils where female teachers will be hired to run polio eradication campaign,” said a health official.
He said the teachers provided by the education department would be made part of polio teams in Tajazai, Sulemankhel, Bakhmal Ahmadzai, Paharkhel, Samandi and Shakh Quli Khan union councils.
The official said that the health department had formed 782 teams to administer anti-polio vaccine to around 1,85,775 children during the coming drive commencing from May 7.
The deputy commissioner stressed the need for launching concerted efforts to wipe out the epidemic from district completely.
He also assured that district administration and police officials would assist health authorities and polio teams to ensure coverage of refusal cases.