HYDERABAD: The number of families that refuse polio vaccination of their children has lately risen in Hyderabad (rural) taluka of the district, which has become a cause of concern for the civil administration.

This was disclosed by focal person of the health department for polio Dr Masood Jafri.

The district administration has emphasised that such families should be obligated to get their children inoculated against polio.

A meeting to oversee progress of polio eradication was held in the former district nazim secretariat on Thurs­day, chaired by Hyderabad Deputy Commi­ss­ioner (DC) Mohammad Nawaz Sohoo.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the district polio eradication committee and Expanded Progr­a­mme on Immunisa­tion (EPI).

The DC said polio eradication campaign should be made effective in the district and teams should visit different areas in this regard. Expressing displeasure over the report, he said the teams concerned should be directed to ensure that families refusing polio vaccination should be accordingly persuaded for children’s inoculation, failing which action should be taken against them. He said there cooperation was needed from assistant commissioners and police officers with polio teams for provision of security.

For making the vaccination programme result-oriented, vaccinators should be accordingly trained to overcome viral diseases.

He expressed his annoyance over report of theft of vaccine and called for action against those involved in it.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2014