ISLAMABAD: The local administration has decided to administer polio vaccine to the children who have come from different parts of the country along with their parents to participate in the sit-ins.

Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Barrister Usman Ibrahim has directed the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (Nirm) and Polyclinic to make special arrangements to vaccinate the children.

“Children do not belong to any party, they are the children of Pakistan, so the government is responsible for their healthcare,” he said.“Our teams would go to the sit-in venue and administer the polio vaccine to children,” the minister said. He requested the parents sitting there to cooperate with the polio teams.

Vice Chancellor of Pims Prof Javed Akram while talking to Dawn said 30 per cent children in the sit-ins belonged to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) so there was a possibility that they might carry the poliovirus.

“Moreover, in the absence of proper hand-washing facility and sewerage system, the chances of transfer of virus increased,” he said.

After the vaccination, certificates will be issued to the children, he said.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd , 2014