Insufficient security: Elders promise volunteer escorts for polio workers

These men (volunteers) will have permission to carry arms as they assist during campaigns, says DPO.

SWABI:

After several attacks on polio vaccination teams in Swabi, teachers – who are also enlisted as vaccinators by the health department – refused to participate because of safety risks. However, a jirga held in the district on Friday offered a homespun solution to improve security; a promise to provide locals as escorts for future drives.

The jirga was led by Swabi DPO Sajjad Khan at his office. Elders and clerics from various villages in the district participated.

Discussing anti-polio drives, social activist, lawyer, and elder Gul Mast Khan pointed out only Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Iraq have been unable to get rid of poliomyelitis; the rest of the world has succeeded drawing a line under the crippling disease.



On October 29, the World Health Organisation (WHO) shared the polio outbreak in Syria could have possibly originated in Pakistan. Ten children in northern Syria were diagnosed with polio and the results for 12 more are expected soon. In an earlier news report, WHO Assistant Director General for Polio Bruce Aylward was quoted saying a polio virus from Pakistan was earlier found in Cairo and Israel.

“If we don’t fight against this disease, no country will issue us a visa,” said Gul Mast at the jirga. Eradication of polio is imperative for the survival and economic growth of Pakistan, he added.

Teachers can refuse to take part in vaccination drives because of security threats, stated Khalid Bacha, another elder. But residents of Swabi will not allow efforts to come to a halt and will provide volunteers. Bacha promised 15 volunteers to escort polio teams during the drive.



Bacha wasn’t alone in his pledge. Elder Haji Ghareeb also came forward to provide five people to escort polio teams.

During the jirga, DPO Khan appreciated the idea of volunteers, claiming the maintenance of law and order is not only the police’s responsibility. Elders are also accountable to clear and secure their area from anti-state elements, added the police official.

According to the DPO, the number of police officials deployed in Swabi is less than other districts. More volunteers should come forward to escort teams as the disease should be eliminated from Pakistan, he said.

Police will assist volunteers on security issues, but cannot provide financial aid as vaccination campaigns are organised by the health department and not police, shared DPO Sajjad. For the purpose of anti-polio drives, volunteers will be allowed to carry weapons while escorting the vaccinators.

The Swabi DPO went on to press local elders to keep their eyes peeled for any suspicious activity, in which case the police should be informed. Elders should not come to the station to pressurise the police to release criminals, instead, such elements should remain behind bars, he stressed.

On June 16, two polio volunteers were killed in Tapaini, Swabi. The two men were administering drops to children in the area.

On January 29, a police constable escorting polio workers was shot dead in Gullo Dheri, Swabi. On the same day in the neighbouring district of Mardan, a man took an axe to a lady health worker’s brother who was accompanying her for protection during the anti-polio drive; the brother was injured.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2013.