GHALANAI: An eight-day anti-polio drive was launched in Mohmand Agency on Saturday.

Political Agent Mahmood Aslam Wazir inaugurated the drive.

On the occasion, the political agent said every effort would be made to administer anti-polio vaccine to each child in the agency.

Agency Surgeon Dr Zakir Khan said that 29,430 children would be administered IPV (injectable polio vaccine) during the vaccination campaign across the agency.

Talking to Dawn, he said that the campaign comprised two phases; six days of active drive and a two-day catch-up activity.

He said that foolproof security arrangements had been adopted for the campaign. During the active campaign, IPV would be given to children ageing between four months and 23 months, he said, adding 155 teams had been formed for the purpose.

He said that each team comprised four members, including two social mobilisers, a skilled person and an assistant, who will go to the guesthouses and mosques to vaccinate the children.

The agency surgeon said that no polio case had been reported from Mohmand Agency in last three years.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2017