PESHAWAR, Dec 8: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani said on Monday that despite periodic campaigns and huge funds allocation for polio eradication, cases of the disease had been reported in different districts.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a polio eradication campaign at the Lady Reading Hospital, he directed the health authorities to probe the matter and take stern action against the officials responsible for the failure of the programmes.

Mr Durrani said it was a matter of concern that despite huge allocation for the eradication of polio, the disease had been reported in the province.

He appealed to Canadian High Commissioner Margaret Huber, who was present on the occasion, and donor agencies to help the government in providing basic amenities like education and clean drinking water to the people, as different diseases broke out due to lack of those facilities.

He said A-category hospitals would be set up in all the districts of the province and land for the purpose had been acquired in 14 districts.

He directed the district coordination officers to make the polio  eradication campaign effective and ensure the participation of the government machinery in the process.

The Canadian high commissioner assured the provincial government of continued support for the elimination of polio.

She appreciated the NWFP government’s steps for the improvement in the health and education sectors.

The country representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund and the World Health Organization, MNA Shahida Akhtar and the provincial  health secretary also spoke.