Polio eradication : Vaccine refusal cases addressed in K-P, FATA

PESHAWAR:

Clerics have helped resolve 8,120 polio vaccine refusal cases during a weeklong national immunisation campaign in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P)and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

Ulema from different schools of thought played a vital role in addressing and rectifying misconceptions surrounding polio vaccination, said Mohammad Jalaluddin, chairman National Research & Development Foundation, while addressing a briefing here at the press club on Tuesday. Accompanied by Mualana Asmatullah and Mualana Rahim Haqqani, he said most polio refusal cases have been addressed with the support and cooperation of ulema in different parts of the province. The ulema delivered special Friday sermons to remove any doubts and negative views about the polio vaccine, he said.

Mualana Jalal also noted that refusal cases had declined in Peshawar and Buner Districts. He expressed hope that polio would be eradicated by the end of this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2011.