Polio eradication

A five day extensive polio immunization campaign will start in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa from February 17 to immunize 6.7 million children in the age group up to five year across the province. As many as 29000 teams of lady health workers have been deputed for administering door-to-door to administer polio drops to children. Chief Secretary Dr. Kazim Niaz formally launched the polio eradication drive at Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar the other day.

Talking to media persons on the occasion, the Chief Secretary stressed for coordinated efforts to root out this menace and urged people from all walks of life to support the efforts that are being made by donor agencies and government institutions He rightly emphasied for mass awareness campaign against the spreading effect of polio virus to educate and persuade parents for immunization of their children and making Pakistan polio free country.

Over the past 10 years a discreet smear campaign is going on to create misconception about the impact of polio immunization on the health of children. Polio team and policemen on duty with them are attacked in the settled districts of Sawbi, Dir and Bannu and Lakhi Marwart.

It has become more risky duty in the tribal district. Imams in Mosques and religious scholars can educate people about the benefits of polio immunization besides the civil society groups, medical fraternity and intellectuals. During 2002-07 these segments of society had been mobilized with the assistance people’s chosen representatives of local bodies which had produced positive results.