PESHAWAR: A large-scale polio eradication campaign was launched in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday to vaccinate 6.53 million children against the crippling disease.

According to Polio Emergency Centre, a total of 35,500 teams have been formed to carry out the campaign, with strict security arrangements in place. Approximately 50,000 security personnel have been deployed to ensure the safety of health workers and smooth execution of the campaign.

The five-day campaign will be conducted across all 36 districts of the province, while in Peshawar and Khyber districts, it will continue for seven days. The campaign aims at immunising approximately 6.53 million children against the crippling disease.

The campaign is also being held in Upper and Lower South Waziristan after a gap of two years, marking an important step in reaching previously inaccessible areas. Authorities emphasise the importance of cooperation from people to ensure that every child receives polio drops.

50,000 security personnel deployed for safety of vaccinators

In Khyber, the drive was launched under strict security supervision of the district police officer, Rai Mazhar Iqbal. The campaign is being conducted with extensive security arrangements to ensure safety of health workers and volunteers.

A total of 945 polio teams have been deployed across the district, accompanied by 2,300 police personnel to provide protection to vaccinators during the campaign.

Police have set up checkpoints in sensitive areas while special forces are patrolling key locations. Strict monitoring is in place at all entry and exit points, with thorough checking of unregistered motorcycles and suspicious vehicles. Quick Response Force and other units have been ordered to remain on high alert throughout the campaign.

DPO Rai Mazhar Iqbal has appealed to parents to cooperate with security forces and health teams and ensure that children under the age of five receive polio drops to protect them from lifelong disability.

In Bajaur, the polio immunisation campaign was kicked off on Monday with effective security and monitoring measures in place.

Around 270,000 children under five will be vaccinated during the drive. About 18,00 polio workers both male and female are participating in the drive. More than 17,00 policemen have been deployed for protection of polio teams.

Several monitoring teams consisting of senior officials of district administration and health department have been tasked to regularly visit campaign sites to oversee the performance of polio teams.

Besides the team members, Deputy Commissioner Shahid Ali Khan accompanied by district health officer, also visited several areas on the opening day of the campaign.

In Dera Ismail Khan, the anti-polio campaign began amid foolproof security measures in various union councils of the district on Monday.

According to a police spokesman, police, FC and other law enforcement personnel have been deployed in a large number to ensure safety of polio teams. He said that bomb disposal squad carried out comprehensive checking of all sensitive and key locations early in the morning.

Security personnel assigned to protect polio teams were given detailed briefings, asking them to adopt courteous behaviour with people, cooperate with health workers and adhere to personal safety protocols.

The district police officer of Tank, Aslam Nawaz Khan, along with SP Haji Nasir Khan visited various areas on the first day of the campaign. They inspected basic health units, distribution points and routes and met with officers on security duty.

On the occasion, DPO Aslam Nawaz Khan said that the anti-polio campaign was not just a routine drive but a national mission. He said that its success was a collective responsibility and all available resources were being utilised to secure future of children.

He urged to people to cooperate with relevant staff to wipe out the disease from the area.

In Lakki Marwat, the anti-polio drive began amidst tight security measures as more than 1,360 policemen deployed to guard vaccinators.

DPO Mohammad Jawad Ishaq said that foolproof security arrangements had been made for smooth and peaceful conduct of the polio eradication campaign. He asked police officials to be vigilant during duty hours to avert any untoward incident.

He said that special checkpoints had been established at various points as part of the security plan to check people and vehicles and keep an eye on movements of suspects.

The DPO said that DSPs and SHOs had been tasked to brief and sensitise policemen about their polio security duty.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2025