ISLAMABAD: In view of violent attacks on polio vaccinators across the country, the army has been asked to assist the civilian authorities in making the anti-polio campaign successful, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Since July 2012, about 40 health workers and law-enforcement personnel engaged either in vaccinating children or providing security to the vaccinators have been killed and 25 others injured in 28 targeted attacks in the country.

According to the ISPR, a meeting was held on Thursday at the army headquarters to “coordinate details of the campaign with particular emphasis on security and access to affected areas”.

Representatives of the WHO, officials of the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments, and those of the Fata Secretariat attended the meeting. The meeting underlined the need for undertaking all the measures necessary for turning Pakistan into a polio-free country.