RAWALPINDI: Polio workers, including female staff, were harassed and prevented from performing their duty in four separate incidents reported to the New Town police on Saturday.

Police officials assisting the polio teams on the streets were also offered resistance during the vaccination drive.

Policemen had been guarding the polio vaccination teams during the drive which started on May 23 and ended on Sunday.

Abdul Mannan, an area in-charge, told Dawn that 10 refusal instances surfaced during the campaign.

However, after being persuaded by polio teams, six of them initially allowed vaccination of their children.

He said four of them refused to take drops and also offered resistance to the polio teams.

“Again, on Sunday, we approached the four persons for vaccination of their children and they allowed our teams.”

The first incident was reported to the police by Sadaqat Ali who said his team was performing duty in Dhoke Babu when a resident, Waqar, refused to vaccinate his children despite three attempts made by the team and also offered resistance.

Abdul Mannan, the in-charge of another polio team, complained to the New Town police that they visited Kashif’s house for vaccination but he refused and misbehaved with the team.

He said when a team along with police was sent to convince him, he harassed the female members of the team and offered resistance.

Mr Mannan lodged another FIR with the police, stating they were visiting houses in a street when a resident identified as Atif refused to get his children vaccinated. Despite repeated attempts, he did not allow the team and also misbehaved with them.

He also lodged another FIR with the New Town police against a resident, Saeed, who refused to get his children vaccinated and also misbehaved with the team.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2022