Ashrafuddin Pirzada
DISTRICT KHYBER: The District Emergency Operation Centre (DEOC) on Wednesday conducted a sensitization session for the upcoming anti-polio campaign at tehsil Landikotal which was attended by officials and locals.
Tehsil chairman Haji Shah Khalid Shinwari, assistant commissioner, Irshad Mohmand, local government representatives, line departments and key tribal, political and religious influencers were invited to the session held at Landikotal Jirga Hall.
Speaking on the occasion, District communication officer and Polio eradication initiative District Khyber Said Afzal Shinwari said that the upcoming week-long anti-polio campaign commences on the 2nd of October. He said it will be continued till October 8. He said the children of the entire district including tehsil Landikotal, Jamrud and Bara would be vaccinated. He said all polio teams were tasked to pay visits to each household so that each child could be vaccinated with polio drops.
Said Afzal said polio vaccination of all children under the age of 5 would get anti-polio drips. He said that in order to aware community and to gain their support comprehensive mobilization and awareness programs were conducted in all Union Councils of the Khyber district which could help polio drive success. He said local elders and civil society members along with the officials would be in contact to reduce the possibility of refusal cases. He said they would increase parents’ trust in health staff and polio vaccination.
The polio official said they also shared the data of the last campaign with only 45 children noted as refusals and those too were linked to different their personal demands. He said Pakistan was among the few countries where poliovirus still exists which should be eliminated as soon as possible. He requested all influencers and stakeholders to join their hands together for polio eradication.
Tehsil chairman Shah Khalid Shinwari assured his full support for smooth vaccination and dialogues with the refusal’s families. He also stressed the need for active participation of all stakeholders for a successful campaign.
Assistant Commissioner of Landijotal Irshad Mohmand said that no campaign could be successful without the active support of stakeholders and the community. He hoped that the week-long anti-polio campaign would achieve its desired targets.
At the end of the session, tehsil chairman Shah Khalid along with the assistant commissioner also formally inaugurated the upcoming campaign by administering polio drops to a few children in Landikotal.
