Peshawar Division finalises strategy for anti-polio drive

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar Division has finalized a comprehensive strategy for the six-day anti-polio campaign starting from today (Monday).

The Divisional Task Force, chaired by Commissioner Riaz Khan Mahsud, made important decisions to address vaccination hesitancy and implement robust security measures to ensure the campaign’s success.

To tackle refusals, the meeting emphasized leveraging the traditional Pashtun Jirga system to engage with parents resisting the polio vaccine. The commissioner directed the deputy commissioners to involve local revenue officials, including Patwaris, to accompany polio teams in the field and engage hesitant families on the spot.

“The use of local customs and direct involvement of district officials will be key to overcoming resistance and ensuring every child is reached,” said Commissioner Mahsud during the meeting.

The deputy commissioners, district police officers, district health officers, and other administrative heads from Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Mohmand, and Khyber districts attended the meeting. Ensuring the security of polio teams was a top priority, with officials assigned to provide foolproof protection throughout the campaign.

The commissioner expressed satisfaction with Mohmand district’s success in eliminating refusal cases and urged other districts to replicate the strategies used there. He announced that he would personally oversee the campaign’s progress and instructed officials to submit daily reports.