LANDI KOTAL: The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with Khyber Agency political administration and Directorate of Health Services, Fata held a series of meetings with elders in Jamrud and Landi Kotal on Monday to neutralise the propaganda against anti-polio vaccine after the death of several children during the last vaccination campaign.

Unicef Fata team leader Dr Abdul Qayyum, WHO area coordinator Dr Kashif Khan, Fata Secretariat Emergency Operation Center head Dr Qasim Afridi and Agency Surgeon Dr Niaz Afridi shared with tribal elders and representatives of civil society the findings of laboratory tests of blood samples of children, who had died during the last campaign.

They told them that the deaths were not caused by either polio vaccine or any of the EPI vaccines, which were also administered to children during the six-day campaign.

The participants of both the meetings in Jamrud and Landi Kotal were told that all the children died due to different diseases, mostly chest and throat infections caused due to prolonged dry weather.

They urged the participants of the meeting to ignore negative propaganda against anti-polio vaccines and instead help them to make the January 16 vaccination campaign a success.

The Unicef and WHO representative made it clear that no death had even been caused due to polio vaccine in any part of the world. The vaccine only lost its efficacy after its expiry with no side effects on the health of children, they added.

Dr Niaz Afridi said on the occasion that no new case of polio had been reported in the agency since November last year owing to strenuous efforts by both the local administration and health department.

The successes against the crippling disease could be lost to senseless and baseless propaganda by some unscrupulous elements, he added.

VISIT: A delegation of at least 49 foreign army officers from 21 different countries attending National Security and Warfare courses at National Defence University Islamabad paid a visit to Landi Kotal and Michni checkpost near Torkham on Monday.

Maj Asad of Khyber Rifles briefed the visiting officers about the history of Khyber Pass and current security situation in the area.

The visitors were told about the effective steps taken by the Pakistani border forces to monitor the porous border with Afghanistan and prevent entry of suspects into Pakistan.

The visiting officers appreciated the efforts made by the border forces and showed keen interest in the history and culture of the region.

Later they were served with traditional local foods at Khyber Rifles Mess.

The members of the delegation also watched Khattak, Mehsud, Betani and Chitrali dances.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2017