BAHAWALPUR: The Lodhran chief executive officer (health) has penalised five staffers for alleged negligence after emergence of first polio case in Punjab in 2017.

According to CEO Tariq Gilani, of five, two lady health workers and a vaccinator have been suspended from service, and two others issued show-cause notices.

Gilani told Dawn by cell phone on Sunday that the LHWs were suspended on charges of tampering with the record of the administration of polio drops to newborn Ali Hassan, who could not be given 14th doze.

Gilani said the LHWs went to the house of Ali Hassan and returned without administering him 14th dose as the baby was suffering from fever.

They allegedly made an entry of the administration of anti-polio drops into the prescribed form.

He said the WHO team was still in the district probing the causes of the polio attack on Ali Hassan.

Published in Dawn, February 20th , 2017