December 13, 2006	Wednesday	Ziqa'ad 21, 1427

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LANDI KOTAL, Dec 12: Pakistan and Afghanistan on Tuesday launched a joint Dec12-14 anti-polio vaccination campaign along their border. Federal Health Minister Naseer Mohammad Khan and Nangrahar Governor Gul Agha Sherzai inaugurated the campaign by administering anti-polio drops to children.

NWFP Health Minister Inayatullah Khan and representatives of the World Health Organisation were present on the occasion.

The federal minister said that eight vaccinators had been posted at each of the nine entry points on the border for administering anti-polio drops to children.

He said that the 2,400km-long border from Chitral to Waziristan would be covered during the campaign.

Blankets and soaps were also distributed among the children.

The federal minister announced that the campaign would continue till the elimination of the disease.

Reuters adds: Vaccination teams headed into the mountains, aiming to go house-to-house and give every child the vaccine.

“What better way to get peace in the region than health diplomacy,” the federal health minister told reporters in Torkham.

“As far as health is concerned, security really doesn't concern us,” he said.

Pakistan has reported 33 cases of polio this year, while 29 cases have been recorded in Afghanistan.

Most of the cases have been in remote areas along their border, where vaccination drives have been curtailed because of security fears.

Afghan Health Minister Sayed Mohammad Amin Fatemi also joined the inauguration of the campaign.

Boys and girls in traditional dresses clustered round the ministers.

“Our joint efforts will go on very successfully and, God willing, Pakistan and Afghanistan will soon be declared polio-free countries,” he said.

The two countries agreed this month to set up checkpoints on the border to screen children and give them vaccine drops.

Pakistani health officials say about 500,000 children cross the border every year.

In addition to Torkham, polio checkpoints are being set up in North and South Waziristan and on the borders of Bajaur and Kurram Agencies.

“Until polio is stopped on both sides of the border we will continue to share the virus between our two countries,” the Pakistani federal health minister said.