MINGORA: Despite facing harsh weather and other challenges, a 21-year-old seminary student from Swat area has vowed to eradicate polio from his far-flung village located in Manglawar mountains around 35km from Mingora.

Shafiullah, who studies Sharia (Islamic law) and Fiqh (jurisprudence) in a seminary of Charbagh area, participates in every anti-polio campaign in his native area of Gat Bela.

The village lacks basic facilities, including electric supply, dispensary, and middle and high schools.

There’s no proper road leading to it forcing the residents to cover around 15km from Bishbanr area on foot.

This year, Shafiullah and his team members carried out all anti-polio campaigns despite heavy snowfall and successfully vaccinated more than 50 children aged below five years.

“We faced different hurdles, including walking in the heavy snowfall and climbing to houses in mountains, but we successfully covered every targeted child in our village,” he told Dawn on return.

The seminarian said the walking track was blocked by landslides but his team crossed all slides with a spirit.

Shafiullah, who is the team leader, said all his colleagues were active and sincere about the cause of polio elimination.

His team member, Mohammad Saleem, said he and colleagues walked for around four hours to reach Gat Belga village.

“We are committed to reaching every child for vaccination to turn the area polio-free,” he said.

The villagers admired him and his team for the initiative.

Gul Said of Gat Bela area praised Shafiullah, his team and health department for the vaccination of villagers.

Zakirullah said some houses stood at high altitude, so having an access to them in the snow was very difficult but Shafiullah and his team reached there and vaccinated children against polio.

“We are thankful to the team,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2020