RAWALPINDI: The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday declared the garrison city sewage free from poliovirus for October.

The WHO collects two samples from different points of Leh Nullah to determine the presence of poliovirus every month. In September, poliovirus was found in Dhoke Dalal. However, the sewage at Safdarabad was declared negative for the virus.

The samples were collected from the high-risk union councils adjacent to I.J. Principal Road near Pirwadhai.

The area had been declared by the local authorities as high risk for transmission of poliovirus as most of the people living there belonged to Fata and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

An official of the WHO told Dawn that the environment samples were collected from the high-risk areas across the country, including Rawalpindi, on 10th of every month. “There is no poliovirus found in the sewage of the garrison city at least for October,” he said.

When contacted, Executive District Officer (Health) Dr Zafar Iqbal Gondal said last month only one sample was detected as positive for poliovirus in the city but “we launched two anti-polio drives in the 28 high-risk union councils.”

It may be mentioned that the district health department failed to launch anti-polio drives in August and September while there was a shortage of polio vaccine.

However, the EDO health said there was no shortage of the vaccine. He held the political situation in the twin cities responsible for the delay.

He said the sit-ins against the government and the closure of roads were the main reasons for delaying the campaigns. “We demanded police force for the security of the vaccinators for anti-polio drives in August and September but the police remained busy in the sit-ins in Islamabad.”

He said work carried out by the polio teams became visible in October when the WHO declared Rawalpindi negative for the virus.

“The current anti-polio drive is in progress in the city’s 28 union councils since October 28 and will end on November 1,” he said.

One more campaign has been planned from November 10. He said during the drive 140,000 children in the 28 high-risk union councils would be vaccinated.

Published in Dawn, November 1st , 2014