Free from restraint

Swat Valley became the most polio affected region under the Taliban rule.

Swat Valley, once a model district for being polio free, became the most polio affected region under the Taliban rule. Polio vaccination was one of the top issues objected against by the Taliban and other religious leaders, in previous years. From the first day, Mullah Fazlullah had banned polio vaccination on the radio, making it all the more encouraging today that religious scholars advocate polio vaccination.

“Polio is an incurable and dangerous disease. Administering drops to children till they are five years old is very important and indispensible”, said Maulana Mian Noor Badshah, member of the National Research and Development Organisation. “288 religious scholars of Swat have regarded polio drops as halal and legal; they have discussed it in the Friday congregations”, he added.

Appealing to the parents, he said that polio vaccination was a way for their children to escape life long disabilities.

The people of Swat valley have appreciated the positive step taken by religious leaders.

Dr Imran, while attending to a child, told The Express Tribune, “I am personally very happy with the announcements by the religious scholars in Friday congregations. Our people blindly believe whatever is preached, this will really encourage the rural population to allow their children to be vaccinated”.

Talking about the previous three years in which polio vaccination was banned, he said “Those years did a lot of harm. Dozens of innocent and unfortunate children have become disabled forever. What will become of them?”

Ibrahim, a member of the Swat Scouts Open Group, who has always taken part in the polio campaign in Swat Valley said enthusiastically “This time we will work day and night and reach the far flung areas without any fear. This was not possible during the previous years. All of us work voluntarily, for the sake of a healthy future.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2010.