BANNU: Commissioner, Bannu, Shaukat Ali Yousafzai on Friday asked the ulema and prayer leaders to help the health department in removing misconceptions about the polio vaccine to eradicate the crippling disease from the division.

He was chairing a meeting attended by the religious scholars, Bannu deputy commissioner Mohammad Zubair Niazi and other relevant officials.

Functions were also held in Naurang town of Lakki Marwat, Tank, Shangla, Mohmand tribal district and Chitral to inaugurate the anti-polio drive. The campaign would formally commence from Monday (Sept 21).

In Bannu, Mr Yousafzai said that people acted upon the advice of the religious scholars. He asked the ulema to help the health department in removing misconceptions about the polio vaccine.

“The vaccine is safe for children and that ulema can convey the message to the parents in a better way,” he said.

Some ulema said on the occasion they had always supported the efforts of the health department and its partner organisations to curb the crippling disease.

In Lakki Marwat, the tehsil administration held a walk in Naurang town on Friday to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination of children against polio.

The walk was led by additional assistant commissioner Aminullah Khan. The participants carried banners inscribed with messages highlighting effectiveness of polio vaccine for every child below the age five in each round.

In Tank, deputy commissioner Kabir Afridi said that eradication of polio was a national duty and people from all walks of life should play an effective role in this regard.

He said that parents refusing vaccination were putting the health of their children in danger. He said they would utilise all resources to save children from the crippling disease.

In Shangla, the five-day anti-polio campaign would commence on Monday after the seven-month break due to Covid-19 pandemic.

The anti-polio drive was launched by the district administration here at Shahpur in Kana tehsil on Friday where DC Shangla administered oral polio vaccine to a child during a meeting.

In Mohmand district, Senator Hilal Rehman and deputy commissioner Iftikhar Alam inaugurated the anti-polio campaign by vaccinating children in the DC office at Ghalanai.

They urged the religious scholars, elders and political activists of the area to join hands with the administration and health department to make the anti-polio campaign a success.

In Chitral, deputy commissioner, Lower Chitral, Naveed Ahmed inaugurated the campaign by giving oral polio drops to a number of children in the DHQ hospital.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2020