Immunisation drives under way in Mohmand, K-P

Strict security measures in place for polio teams in Swabi, Charsadda

SWABI/ GHALLANI: Children under the age of five were vaccinated against polio across the tribal areas and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in a vaccination drive on Monday. 

Mohmand Agency

Political Agent Waqar Ali launched the drive in the morning from Agency Headquarters Hospital in Ghallanai by administering polio drops to a child. Speaking on the occasion, Ali pledged that the political administration will provide security to all vaccination teams.

Giving details of the drive, Mohmand polio coordinator Dr Shabbir Khan said the intention was to vaccinate around 90,250 children vulnerable to the crippling disease.



According to Dr Khan, 361 mobile teams, 39 fixed teams and eight transit teams have been formed for the purpose and each team will be escorted by two health department workers as well as khasadars, levies and local social workers.

Charsadda

A polio drive is also under way in Charsadda with the aim to vaccinate 246,000 children. In the first phase, the vaccination campaign was conducted by 650 teams in Shabqadar tehsil, while Tangi and Charsadda tehsils will be next.

According to the district focal person for polio, the district has been divided into three zones for this drive due to security concerns because several polio teams  have been targeted in Charsadda in the past.

Swabi

As many as 68,004 children will be vaccinated against polio in an immunisation drive under way in two tehsils of the district.

Swabi Expanded Programme on Immunization Coordinator Dr Muhammad Yaqoob said during the campaign 11 union councils of Chota Lahor tehsil and six union councils of Razar tehsil will be covered, and strict security measures have been put in place.



According to Dr Yaqoob, 200 vaccination teams have been formed which will work under 38 area in charges to achieve the set target.

A total of 228,000 are supposed to be vaccinated in all four tehsils of Swabi, however, due to security concerns the drive has been divided into phases and two tehsils are being covered first.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2015.