SWABI, July 5: The anti-polio drive, which was suspended after the killing of two vaccinators few weeks ago, is likely to be resumed in the district on Monday, according to health officials.

They said that in that connection a meeting was held the other day with Deputy Commissioner Abdul Muneem in the chair to discuss provision of security to the vaccinators. The meeting was attended by Dr Mohammad Yaqub, the in-charge of Extended Programme on Immunisation (EPI), health and police officials.

“The issue of providing security to the vaccinators was thoroughly discussed in the meeting,” said a health official. He said that vaccinators had alleged that adequate security was not provided to them.

Two vaccinators, Aziz Mohammad and Mohammad Shiraz Khan, were killed by armed persons in Kandaro Banda on June 16. Similarly, a police constable, Munsif Khan, who was providing security to two women polio vaccinators, was shot dead by militants in Kala village on January 29.

After incidents, the vaccinators had refused to participate in the anti-polio campaign.

“The police officials vowed to provide foolproof security to polio vaccinators,” said an official, who attended the meeting.

Sources said that out of the 252,000 target children, 13,000 were Afghan refugees, living in Gohati and Gandaf camps. They said that 634 teams of vaccinators would administer anti-polio drops to children in different areas of the district with the support of people during the drive.

POWER SUPPLY: The residents of the district have demanded of the government to ensure smooth supply of power during the holly month of Ramazan to give relief to the faithful.

The leaders of different political parties and traders in their separate gatherings here the other day said that government should take practical steps for smooth supply of power to the area.

They said that people experienced prolonged power loadshedding during the previous Ramazan. “This year we expect government would not observe excessive loadshedding like that of the previous government,” said Waseem Shah, former provincial general secretary of Muslim Students Federation.