BAHAWALPUR: The health department, Lodhran, began physiotherapy of a four months and 15 days old infant, the first polio virus case detected in 2017 in Punjab.

This was stated by Lodhran’s Chief Executive Officer (Health) Tariq Gilani on Wednesday.

Talking to Dawn on cell phone, Mr Gilani said that a team of two lady health workers had been deputed to visit child Ali Hassan’s house daily in village 15-M in Dunyapur tehsil and devote time for his physiotherapy.

He expressed his hope that the infant would recover from the polio virus attack with continuous exercise and as such his disability in the near future.

Three health workers suspended for negligence

About the suspension of two LHWs and a vaccinator for their alleged negligence in administering the last doze of anti-polio drops to the infant, the CEO said an inquiry against them under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act(PEEDA) would be initiated and completed within two months.

Meanwhile, the WHO team headed by representative Dr Raul Boni-Ficio was currently busy in combing the areas of Bahawalpur and Lodhran districts to detect the causes of the polio virus attack on the infant.

Preventive programme in-charge Dr Zakir said that WHO experts would remain in the area till the source of the polio virus was detected.

Federal polio surveillance officer Dr Raheel Agha also reached here to conduct his annual surveillance and update the entire health records in this respect, Dr Zakir said.

ARRESTED: Baghdadul Jadid police claimed to have arrested three people and recovered 453 rifles, two Kalashnikovs, 49 pistols, 168 magazines and 27,846 bullets in Tuesday’s raid on a car here.

Addressing a press conference, acting DPO Kanwar Muhammad Qasim and DSP Fayyaz Pinsonta said the arrested persons were identified as Aamir Pathan of Kohat, Zahid of village 61/DB (Yazman) and arms dealer Tipu of Rahim Yar Khan.

They said that these people were involved in illegal trade of arms which they would buy from Darra Adamkhel and sell here.

They said that an illegal arms trade case was registered against them.

ARRESTED: The Lodhran police claimed to have arrested a woman allegedly involved in the killing of a girl and attempting to kill her sister by slashing her throat in ward No 8 in Mumtazabad in Kahror Pucca on Tuesday.

Bahawal Victoria Hospital’s emergency ward director Dr Aamir Bokhari said that Sonia (8) was in a critical condition and doctors were making efforts to save her life.

Police said that Sonia’s father Parvazi, on whose complaint an FIR was registered, alleged that Kanwal brought both sisters Sonia and Alishah to the fields and tried to slash their throats.

Her daughter Alishah (5) was slaughtered there while Sonia survived and was shifted to the BVH.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2017