The National Institute of Health confirmed the presence of the virus in 18-month-old Amina, daughter of Mibol and resident of Toor Tangai in Macha Saber Khel village of Miranshah tehsil, North Waziristan Agency (NWA).
The second child infected by the crippling disease is 11-month-old Asma, daughter of Saifur Rehman and a resident of Spalga in Shogai Tori Khel village, also in Miranshah tehsil of NWA.
Both children are infected with wild poliovirus (type-1).
According to a Prime Minister’s Polio Monitoring Cell surveillance report, neither of the two children had received a single dose of the oral polio vaccine.
The report further states the number of districts/tribal agencies with infected children stands at four; Peshawar, Bannu, Khyber Agency and NWA where the virus remains endemic amidst a ‘ban’ of vaccination imposed by the Taliban.
At least 82% of the polio cases confirmed this year are from NWA, it states.
Out of the 17 cases reported so far, 14 are from North Waziristan, and one each from Peshawar, Bannu and Khyber Agency. The ages of the infected children range between six months and 39 months.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2014.
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I hope one day, these affected children stand up in front of the TTP 'sharia compliant' commanders and ask them if making someone cripple is a part of their Shariah???