BAJAUR: Authorities on Tuesday decided to enhance security of polio workers during the ongoing five-day campaign in Bajaur tribal district after an attack on a polio team in Orakzi tribal district on Tuesday morning.

The decision was made during the review meeting of the second day of the ongoing anti-polio campaign held here with Deputy Commissioner Shahid Ali Khan in the chair, said a statement.

Officials of district administration, health and police departments and representatives of World Health Organisation (WHO) attended the meeting. They reviewed the progress of the second day’s campaign and termed it satisfactory.

The meeting was told that the campaign was going well across the district as no unpleasant incident was reported in any area. However, the officials of health department told the meeting about refusal cases in some areas of both Khar and Nawagai subdivisions.

The statement said that some officials of health department remained absent from their polio duty for the second consecutive days on Tuesday. The participants of the meeting expressed satisfaction over security arrangements for the drive as more than 1,500 policemen were escorting polio workers across the district.

However, most of the participants suggested to further beef up security of polio teams across the district, especially in remote and mountainous areas, after the Tuesday’s attack on a polio team in Orakzai tribal district that claimed the lives of two policemen guarding the vaccinators.

The meeting decided that more policemen would be deployed with polio teams in hilly and remote areas of the district today (Wednesday) so that vaccinator could feel safe.

The statement said that deputy commissioner expressed displeasure over the absence of some officials of health department from their polio duty for the second consecutive day without mentioning any reason. He directed the district health officer to take strict action against them.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2024