BADIN: A group of villagers and farmers warned district administration on Thursday that they would not have their children vaccinated against polio in the upcoming campaign if the irrigation department did not repair and remodel a link drain, which developed breaches during flood season every year and caused flooding in their area.

Mohammad Soomar Loond, Sikandar, Mohammad Ibrahim and others told a press conference at local press club in Tando Bago town on Thursday that they had requested irrigation and drainage authorities time and again for repairing or remodeling the link drain (No. AL-16) but it seemed their pleas fell on deaf ears.

They said that almost all villages on either side of the drain faced inundation during monsoon season each year when the drain overtopped, and they had live in constant fear.

Meanwhile, Badin deputy commissioner Yasir Bhatti chaired a meeting on Thursday to discuss arrangements for the upcoming Sub-National Immunization Day campaign starting from June 3, 2024.

The participants in the meeting, representatives of NGO and officials of revenue and health departments, were informed that 425,000 children below five years would be administered the vaccine during the campaign.

The DC ordered provision of foolproof security arrangements to polio workers and asked all departments concerned to provide help to vaccinators.

He said that parents should fully co-operate with polio teams to protect their children from permanent disability and must allow their children to be administered polio drops.

He appreciated workers for enduring harshness of hot weather as they went door to door in remote areas to combat the crippling the disease. “I salute the patience of all the workers who are fighting for the survival of our future generation,” said the DC.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2024