KHAR: While finalising security plan for the upcoming anti-polio campaign slated to begin tomorrow (Monday), the administration of Bajaur Agency has decided to deploy two levies officials for every vaccination team in the most sensitive areas and one for every team in sensitive area.

The decision was made during a meeting of the senior officials of administration and health department here on Saturday with Bajaur Agency political agent Abdul Jabbar Shah in the chair.

Senior officials of the administration, health department and representatives of World Health Organisation, including the assistant political agents of Khar and Nawagai subdivision and agency surgeon Dr Zakir Hussain, were in attendance.

The participants discussed issues related to the anti-polio campaign, security plan for health teams and mechanism for overcoming the growing vaccination refusal cases across the agency during the upcoming vaccination campaign.

Agency surgeon Dr Zakir Hussain and WHO representatives briefed participants about anti-polio activities, the overall security situation and response of local community towards vaccination.

“Overall, the response of community to anti-polio drive in the agency is satisfactory. Neither any unpleasant incident has happened nor has a polio case been reported in the agency for six months. Nonetheless, better security could help enhance the efficiency of health teams,” said Dr Zakir.

He said 227,224 children under five years of age would be administered anti-polio vaccines, while 1,586 health workers would take part in the drive.

After a long discussion, participants decided that one official of levies force would accompany every anti-polio team in every sensitive area of the agency, while two officials of levies forces would be deployed for every anti-polio team in the most sensitive areas.

They also decided that tribal elders and volunteers of village defence committee would also accompany vaccinators in the most sensitive areas during the campaign.

Participants agreed not to allow female workers to take part in the anti-polio campaign for security reasons.

The political agent of Bajaur Agency said the administration was taking all possible steps to eradicate polio from the agency.

He directed the relevant officials of the administration and health department to speed up their efforts for the purpose.