PESHAWAR: Peshawar division commissioner Mohammad Zubair on Friday launched the five-day anti-polio campaign with 4,000 mobile teams having been formed to vaccinate over 1.3 million children under the age of five in the region.

Talking to mediapersons after inaugurating the drive, Mr Zubair said all arrangements had been made for the smooth execution of the campaign. He said more than 5,000 police personnel would perform security duty during the immunisation campaign.

He said a special strategy had been prepared for smooth sailing of the polio campaign. “The teams will go door-to-door to administer polio drops to children to ensure no child was missed.

Our correspondent in Lakki adds: Anti-polio drive began in Lakki Marwat and Bannu districts on Friday amid tight security. More than 4,500 policemen have been deployed to guard the vaccinators in both the regions.

In Bannu, a foolproof security plan has been formulated to provide protection to the health workers engaged in the polio eradication activity. Over 2,400 policemen are accompanying vaccinators to enable them to immunise children against the crippling disease without any fear.

Bannu district police officer Ziauddin Ahmed paid visits to different basic health units and rural health facilities to check security arrangements at fixed polio centres.

He also met members of mobile teams and appreciated them for their commitment to the national cause.

He was informed that temporary checking points had been established in parts of the district to keep an eye on movement of suspects.

Meanwhile, Lakki Marwat DPO Mohammad Ashfaq Khan also visited health facilities to check security arrangements there.

He checked deployment of cops at fixed centres and with mobile teams and directed the police officials to ensure provision of foolproof security to polio teams.

Officials told DPO Ashfaq that cops in civvies and district special branch personnel have been deployed at the health facilities and in parts of the district to avert any untoward incident.

During the visit, Mr Ashfaq administered anti-polio drops to several children and asked the citizens to cooperate with the polio teams and police in order to make the drive a success.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2023