RAWALPINDI: On the directives of the Punjab government, the health department has started registration of families, especially children, coming from North Waziristan to administer anti-polio drops in the light of the military operation.

“There are reports that families from North Waziristan are arriving in Rawalpindi and Attock districts. There is a fear that the children might bring polio virus with them, so the government has started registration of all such families to vaccinate their children up to five years,” said Executive District Officer (EDO) Health Dr Zafar Iqbal Gondal, while talking to Dawn.

He said although the transit camps have been established at entry points of the two districts, there was a need to take extra precautionary measures, as summer is the ideal season to for the transmission of polio virus.

He said a total of 195 teams have been formed for the district, at union council level. “Each team comprises of vaccinators and community development officers, and they will keep an eye on the arrival of newcomers in the area,” he said.

At present, 10 families have arrived through the Attock checkpost, he said, adding that the teams were surveying the union councils to find out where they have settled.

All children below the age of five will be administered the vaccination

He said after their registration, the anti-polio campaign will be launched in the high-risk union councils, focusing on the families coming from Fata and North Waziristan.

He added that the environmental sample of the sewage in Dhoke Dalal tested positive and confirmed that the virus belonged to Waziristan.

He said Pirwadhai and adjoining areas were at a high risk of spread of this virus.

He stressed that the matter should be taken seriously, thus the health department has conducted a campaign to provide polio vaccinations to all children below the age of five.

“We faced some resentment from the Pakhtun population against polio vaccination and more than 500 houses were declared chronic refusers for the vaccination. There is a dire need to create awareness among the people about the benefits of polio vaccination,” he said.

According to the data, 45 families refused the vaccine in union council (UC) 5, 55 houses refused in UC 6, 35 houses in Cantonment areas, many others at Sarai Kala and the periphery of the district.

He said the district health department had involved the local elders and local politicians, who will interact with these families and make them agree to the vaccination.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2014