Anti-polio drive: ICT, Pindi resolve jurisdiction issues, for now

Out of six disputed areas, some will be covered by the ICT, including DHA Phase-2 and DHA Phase-2 extension.

ISLAMABAD:

Following the directives of the Prime Minister’s Polio Monitoring and Coordination Cell, the Executive District Officer (EDO) for Health of twin cities held a meeting on Friday to resolve outstanding issues of jurisdiction which resulted in putting thousands children at risk of polio in the disputed areas.

Talking to The Express Tribune, EDO Health Dr Zafar Iqbal Gondal said it was decided in the meeting that out of six disputed areas, some will be covered by the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), including DHA Phase-2 and DHA Phase-2 extension. Others will be covered by the Rawalpindi health department, these include Industrial Area Rawat, Police Colony, Media Town and Christian Colony, in the upcoming anti-polio campaign.



He said that this has been done on temporary basis just to vaccinate missed children, however a high-level meeting is scheduled on March 9, which will be chaired by Deputy Commissioner Amir Ali Ahmad and will be attended by law enforcement agencies and revenue department officials.

In the meeting final decisions will be taken on outstanding issues of jurisdiction, he added.

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