0ver 4.43 million children to be vaccinated in high risk KP districts

PESHAWAR: Over 4.437 million children would be vaccinated in the 17 high-risk districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and camps for Afghan refugees in the anti-polio campaign starting from tomorrow.

This was declared at a high-level meeting at the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, held with its Coordinator Atif Rehman in the chair.

Team Leader Unicef Dr Johar, Team Lead WHO Dr Abdi Nasir, Team Lead N Stop, Dr Ijaz Ali Shah, Technical Focal Person BMGF Dr Imtiaz Ali Shah and other relevant government officials and representatives of partner organisations were also in attendance.

EOC Coordinator Atif Rehman directed for quality campaign in the high risks districts and to ensure that no child misses the vaccination as it would put the lives of other children at risk.

He urged parents to cooperate with vaccinators braving all the challenges to reach out and vaccinate every child below five-year age against the crippling virus.

Earlier, the meeting was informed that a total of 16,002 teams comprising 13,953 mobile, 1,079 fixed, 735 transit and 235 roaming teams have been formed to reach out to every child.

It was shared that the drive would be carried in Bannu, Charsadda, Chitral, Dera Ismail Khan, Upper and Lower Dir, Hangu, Karak, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, Malakand, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Swabi, Swat and Tank districts.

The meeting was told that 26,000 police personnel would be deployed to ensure security to vaccinators and make the campaign a success.

The country has reported eight polio cases in 2017, compared to 20 cases in 2016 and 306 in 2014. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reported one polio case the previous year, compared to eight in 2016 and 68 in 2014.

HANGU: Arrangements had been finalised to administer oral polio vaccines to around 11,000 children during three days campaign in the district, an official said.

Speaking at a meeting, Deputy Commissioner Shahid Mehmood said that 485 anti-polio teams under the supervision of 114 area heads and including 410 mobile, 38 fixed, and 23 transit teams, had been formed to administer polio vaccines to around 11,000 children below the age of five years in the district.

Assistant Deputy Commissioner Attaul Muneem, Assistant Commissioner Yousaf Karim, Dr Sameen Jan and others attended the meeting.