QUETTA: The second phase of a polio eradication campaign could not be launched in Quetta, Zhob and Sherani districts on Monday because of inadequate security arrangements by the Balochistan government.

The health department refused to send staff and volunteers to take part in the campaign without full security arrangements in the districts.

“We cannot launch the campaign until the required security is arranged,” an official of the department said, adding that it would be launched after the security arrangements were made.

However, the second phase of the campaign was launched in Nasirabad, Jaffarabad, Jhal Magsi and 33 high-risk union councils of Pishin and Qila Abdullah districts amid tight security.

“Health teams are visiting houses to administer vaccination drops to children under age of five,” an official of the department said.

“Heavy contingents of security personnel are providing security to the polio staff and volunteers in these districts,” sources said.

Quetta, Zhob and Sherani require extra security arrangements because incidents of killing of polio workers have taken place there in the past.

Four polio workers, including three women, were gunned down and three others injured on Nov 27 near the Eastern Bypass.

A polio worker and a driver were killed along with two Levies men in Zhob after kidnapping.

Only one polio case has been reported in the province this year.

The Balochistan government is taking steps with the help of the World Health Organisation and Unicef to eradicate the disease.

Published in Dawn March 3rd , 2015

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