ISLAMABAD: The capital administration has sought assistance of religious figures to create awareness about its polio vaccination, cleanliness and plantation campaigns.

The assistance was sought at an Ulema convention held at Faisal Masjid on Tuesday. Over 200 religious scholars from all schools of thought attended the convention organised by the capital administration.

Speaking on the occasion, Additional Deputy Commissioner Dr Mohammad Asif Rahim requested the participants to become ambassadors of the administration for its polio vaccination, cleanliness and plantation campaigns. They were requested to highlight the issue and create awareness among people during Friday sermons.

They were also asked to highlight the importance of polio vaccination, cleanliness and plantation.

Mr Rahim also gave a presentation about the campaigns. He also answered questions about the polio vaccination campaigns.

When asked why it was necessary to administer polio vaccine to a child repeatedly after 28 days, the official said an immune system developed through a dose of polio vaccination in a child got unproductive after a period of 28 days. So after this period, the polio vaccination campaign starts again to reactivate the immune system.

Findings and results of the research carried out on polio vaccination at the National Institute of Health (NIH) were also shared with the participants to clear their doubts. The official said the reports certified that the vaccine did not contain sterilising hormones.

Besides, booklets containing Fatwas issued by Mufits belonging to both the Sunni and Shia schools of thought were disturbed among the ulema. These Fatwas stated that the polio vaccine was safe and Halal.

Doubts and objections over foreign funding for the polio vaccination campaigns were also addressed.

Mr Rahim said foreign countries were funding the campaigns for the safety of their own children.

Any Pakistani child who carries the poliovirus may transport it to other countries leading to an outbreak there, he said. The Ulema were also asked to highlight the importance of plantation and request the people to plant more trees in their homes and streets.

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2019