Two polio workers killed in Swabi

SWABI: At least two polio workers were killed when their team came under attack in Swabi on Wednesday.

According to Swabi’s District Police Officer Imran Shahid, unidentified men opened fire at the polio team while they were on duty in Parmoli area, as a result a lady health worker died on the spot, while another was severely injured. The injured lady health worker was first rushed to the Kalu Khan Hospital and later shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, where she succumbed to her injuries.

Police collected three bullet shells from the site of the shooting, the DPO said, adding security in the area where the incident occurred was not on high alert.

Taking notice of the attack, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan directed the Inspector General of Police Sanaullah Abbasi for submitting a report on the incident, besides taking strict action against the perpetrators of the attack.

Attacks on polio workers are common in various parts of KP and Balochistan, which was one of the biggest hindrances to the eradication of polio from the country.

Last year, the government formed the National Strategic Advisory Group (NSAG) to tackle polio eradication. The NSAG has representatives from leading political parties who have worked on polio eradication programmes in previous governments. The broad based body was constituted in consultation with Prime Minister Imran Khan and is led by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza.