PESHAWAR: Senior Member Board of Revenue Ikramullah Khan has called upon relevant officials to devise a strategy to deal with ‘demand-based’ refusals against polio vaccination.

Chairing a meeting of Provincial Task Force (PTF) here on Tuesday, he directed district administrators to take necessary measures for polio eradication and vaccination of all children against the crippling virus, according to a statement.

Directed to expedite efforts for eradication of disease

Health Secretary Mehmood Aslam Wazir, the special health secretary for polio eradication, Abdul Basit, the secretary of information, Syed Jabbar Shah, and other relevant officials attended the meeting. All commissioners and deputy commissioners joined the meeting virtually.

Ikramullah said that it was unfortunate that Pakistan was among the last two countries that were still endemic for polio and was a threat to the children in rest of the world. He said vaccination should not be incentivised as it would encourage other people to link vaccination with various demands. He asked the stakeholder to mull over viable solution for demand-based refusals.

He also directed for constitution of a committee with additional chief secretary home as its head to resolve the issue of campaign staggering in southern district of the province and another committee under additional chief secretary of planning and development for realignment of donor-driven projects with polio lens.

Ikramullah said that it was the main responsibility of parents to ensure vaccination of their children and safeguard them against disabilities. He appreciated the efforts of law enforcement agencies during anti-polio drives.

He reiterated strong commitment for polio eradication, saying challenges would not dampen their spirit and divert their focus. “We will not leave any stone unturned for making this region polio-free and stopping virus transmission,” he added.

He directed commissioners and deputy commissioners to implement the action points pending at their end to plug the gaps and underscored the need for strengthening the synergy of expanded programme on immunisation.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2023