KOHAT/TIMERGARA: Strict security arrangements have been made for anti-polio campaign in Kohat and Section 144 has been imposed across the district to ban display of weapons, pillion riding and use of black glasses in vehicles.

DPO retired Captain Mansoor Aman checked the security measures for the ongoing anti-polio campaign in the district and administered drops to children. He visited various areas and issued instructions to police personnel deployed with polio teams to perform their duty efficiently.

The DPO said that more than 1500 police personnel were deployed for security of polio teams. He said that entire Kohat district was divided into four sectors and each police station was declared sub-sector for security of vaccinators.

The DPO directed police to keep special focus on the security of anti-polio teams and accelerate search and strike operations by seeking cooperation of locals while ensuring strict surveillance of suspected persons.

During the five-day campaign in Kohat, 208,000 children will be vaccinated against polio and a total of940 teams comprising volunteers and health personnel have been formed for this purpose.

Meanwhile, a three-day anti-polio drive was kicked off in parts of Lower Dir on Monday.

Deputy Commissioner Saadat Hasan, DHO Dr Shaukat Ali and assistant commissioners visited different areas and monitored the drive. Dr Shaukat Ali administered anti-polio drops to children in Timergara and formally launched the drive.

Talking to local journalists, he said that more than 300,000 children below five years of age would be vaccinated during the campaign. He said that the district had been polio-free since 2006 but new cases in the adjacent Bajaur tribal district and Afghanistan posed serious threat to local children.

The deputy commissioner also administered drops to several children during his visit to different areas. He directed all the assistant commissioners to strictly monitor the vaccination drive in their respective sub-divisions.

He said that any kind of negligence by health officials during the drive would not be tolerated. He asked the health officials to reach out to all children and achieve their target.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2020