SWABI: The ongoing anti-polio drive was halted on Saturday after the doctors and paramedical staff went on strike against growing attacks on vaccinators. They threatened to continue the agitation if proper security was not provided to health workers.

Speaking at a protest meeting at the district headquarters hospital, they condemned government’s failure to provide adequate security to polio workers.

They also denounced attack on the EPI centre at the hospital and killing of Dr Yar Mohammad of Malik Abad village.

The participants said that Dr Yar was shot dead at his clinic at a private medical centre in Topi bazaar on Friday morning by two suspected persons.

They said Mr Yar was targeted by militants due to his alleged support for military action in Malik Abad village in Feb 2010.

They declared their lives were in danger due to precarious security situation in the district.

Meanwhile, an EPI official told Dawn that the polio workers who had gone to the field on Saturday morning to vaccinate children, returned back when the doctors and paramedical staff went on strike.

The official said the government had to arrange polio vaccine from other civil hospitals of the district for the ongoing drive after destruction of the EPI centre in a blast the other day.

The EPI official said that a meeting of the general body of the doctors and paramedical staff would be held on Monday to decide whether or not to take part in the polio campaign.

He said that if the body decided to resume the anti-polio campaign then the drive would be completed it in Swabi tehsil.

The sources said the officials of the district administration would try to convince the doctors and paramedical staff on Monday to resume the anti-polio campaign.

On the other hand, officials linked with anti-polio drive said the campaign would resume as and when security of the vaccinators was ensured.