KHAR: Senior officials of the district administration and the health department on Sunday reviewed the arrangements for the three-day anti-polio campaign scheduled to be launched in Bajaur tribal district from Monday (today).

They were speaking at a meeting presided over by deputy commissioner Usman Mehsud. District health officer Dr Wazir Khan Safi was also present.

The meeting was told that all arrangements had been completed for the anti-polio drive.

It was told that the health department in collaboration with support organisations had conducted seminars and consultative meetings with tribal elders and religious leaders to get their support for making the drive a success.

It was observed that the refusal cases had significantly been reduced in the region during the previous campaign, which also saw about 12,000 more children than the target getting vaccination.

The officials told the meeting that 235,800 children below the age of five years would be vaccinated during the upcoming drive, for which, total 940 teams of vaccinators had been formed.

The participants also expressed concern over surfacing of a new polio case in the region, but vowed to continue making efforts till complete eradication of the fatal disease from the tribal district.

On the occasion, deputy commissioner Usman Mehsud said the administration was committed to stamping out the poliovirus from the district once and for all.

He directed the officials of both the administration and the health department to play their due role in making the polio drive a success by covering the targeted population. He said strict action would be taken against the officials found negligent.

Meanwhile, district police officer Pir Shahab Ali Shah told reporters that 1,276 personnel of Bajaur Levies/police would be deployed for the security of the polio teams across the district.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2020