Shamsul-Amin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL: A large number of children were made vulnerable to poliovirus when parents in different areas of Landikotal in the Khyber tribal district denied vaccinating their children to show sympathies with Khasadar men, sources said.
As per the source, hundreds of residents of Pirokhel, Sultankhel, Adil Khad, Kam Shalman and the station area have refused to vaccinate their children to show solidarity with Khasadar.
A polio team supervisor, who requested anonymity told media men that 24 children in the Sultankhel area have been deprived to give polio drops as their parents refused. He said that the refusing parents were of the view that they stood with Khasadar, adding that the government should accept their legitimate demands to help secure their jobs.
When contacted another source in the health department confirmed the refusal cases in different areas of the tehsil.
Meanwhile, Fortier Corps personnel stopped Landikotal media from covering a polio eradication event in Torkham while they had been invited for the coverage by the local administration formally.
It is to be mentioned here that Khasadar in erstwhile Fata has denied to escort polio teams and also announced boycotted polio vaccination to their children in favor of their demands.
