PESHAWAR, Aug 8: NWFP Minister for Health Inayatullah Khan has said that the government was trying to involve all segments of society in efforts to control epidemics.

He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of a three-day national immunisation campaign at the Hayatabad Medical Complex here on Monday morning.

The minister ordered the authorities concerned to take proper steps to strengthen the drive. He also directed for involving religious leaders in the routine immunisation campaign to achieve the required results.

The minister asked the director-general health to chalk out a plan for launching awareness campaign against hepatitis in the province.

He appealed to media men to spread awareness in society about polio and other dangerous diseases.

Speaking on the occasion, leader of opposition Shahzada Gustasap Khan said the opposition would cooperate with the government in prevention of diseases in the province.

Appreciating efforts of the government for elimination of polio and other diseases, he expressed the hope that polio would be eradicated soon from the province. He stressed the need to find out causes of the recently reported polio cases.

Earlier, representatives of the donor agencies appreciated the commitment of different provincial political parties to control diseases.

Director-General Health Services Dr Jalilur Rehman and WHO representative Dr Riaz also spoke on the occasion.

The leader of the opposition inaugurated the campaign by administering polio drops to children below five years.

Our Correspondent from Lakki Marwat adds: District Coordination Officer Kifayatullah Khan inaugurated a three-day anti-polio drive at the town hall here on Monday by administrating polio drops to a number of children below the age of five.

Speaking at the occasion, DCO Kifayatullah Khan stressed on the need to convince parents for vaccination of their children, as it could save them from paralysis for life.

He asked the officials of revenue and education departments to keep a strict check on the performance of polio teams and report their slackness to the authority immediately.

Executive district officer health Dr Iqbal Marwat, district collector Malik Damsaz, deputy district officer health Dr Abdur Rehman, district coordinator expanded programme for immunisation Dr Mohammad Ilyas, medical superintendent of DHQ hospital Dr Akbar Jan, EDO schools and literacy Azam Khan, district officer for social welfare Falak Naz and Dr Mohammad Ishaq were also present on the occasion.