A health agent prepares a vaccine. PHOTO: REUTERS
The kids were vaccinated after public representatives intervened and managed to strike an agreement between the parents of the children and the district administration in the presence of local police.
In order to stop the transmission of the poliovirus, authorities involved in anti-polio campaigns have been identifying high-risk areas. These areas include neighbourhoods in the provincial capital where vaccinators have consistently been turned away during every campaign.
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Besides constant refusals from the provincial capital, environmental samples from the city have consistently tested positive for carrying the poliovirus.
Interestingly, a major chunk refusal cases from the provincial capital come from the same area. Despite efforts to convince some parents in these areas to allow vaccination, some parents remain reluctant and constantly shut the door on polio teams.
After samples collected from Shaheen Muslim Town in January tested positive, the authorities refocused their attention on the town.
“They had been refusing polio drops for their kids for over six months but this time, they have signed an agreement saying they will never refuse polio teams,” Additional Deputy Commissioner Shahid Ali Khan explained how the family was convinced.
Shahid said that local resident Umar, a resident of Shaheen Muslim Town — a densely populated locality near the heart of the city, has two kids. He had been asking polio teams to leave his children alone consistently for over six months.
It was a similar story on Monday when female vaccinators sought his permission to administer polio drops to his children. Umar refused and then proceeded to verbally abuse the polio workers.
Parents who refuse polio vaccine to be photographed
Shahid stated people in the area stood by and watched as the polio workers pleaded with Umar and ultimately led to a scuffle between Umar and a neighbour. Police had to be called in to settle the matter and a case was also registered against Umar.
“He was arrested, however, a local public representative later held a jirga where Umar signed an agreement that he will never refuse polio workers in the future,” the ADC told The Express Tribune, adding that the district administration will never tolerate refusal cases.
Peshawar has been the focus of all those involved in the anti-polio campaigns since it is located along the same route where the virus travels and reports over 2,500 refusal cases at the end of every campaign.
According to officials, most of the times [when environmental samples test positive for carrying the virus], the virus is traced back to Afghanistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2018.
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