EARLIER this month, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government launched its first-ever deworming campaign across the province. The objective is to deworm children vulnerable to infection of intestenial worms.

For this purpose centres were set up in both government and private schools. Initially, most parents were reluctant to send their children to schools owing to rumours spread of the adverse effects of the drug administration on children’s health. The turn-out of students on the first day of the campaign was very low.

Since more polio cases have been reported this year in the province, a propaganda campaign has been launched in the province by vested groups.

It is a habit of some people to criticise any government initiative to improve the lot of the people. The need of the hour is for the state to identify these elements and deal with them with an iron fist.

Engr. Naveed Yousafzai
Jatgram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2019