Combating polio in Pindi: ‘Sehat Ka Insaf’ programme replicated
Sources say PTI’s strategy adopted to reach out to children in risky areas.
Sources say PTI’s strategy adopted to reach out to children in risky areas. PHOTO: INP
RAWALPINDI:
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government’s “Sehat ka Insaf” programme for polio immunisation has been replicated in eight sensitive union councils (UCs) in Rawalpindi district.
Though district health officials denied having replicated the programme to avoid politicisation, credible sources told The Express Tribune that the polio drops were administered to children aged five and below in the eight UCs under police guard on Sundays. The drive will continue next Sunday as well, the sources said.
Under the ‘Sehat ka Insaf’ strategy, children are vaccinated against polio in risky and highly sensitive areas in K-P on Sundays under strict security. A ban is generally imposed on bike riding, display of weapons and gathering of more than four people for a specific time.
“Due to rampant attacks and killings of health workers in K-P, the idea to administer polio drops on Sundays was first floated by the PTI chief Imran Khan and adopted by the K-P government. The same strategy was also exercised 20 years ago in other countries where the drive would run for two or three days a week,” said an official wishing not to be named.
The official said the drive will be carried out next Sunday as well. The drive continues from 9am till 3pm.
District Health Officer Dr Khalid Randhawa rejected the impression that the K-P government’s strategy has been copied to run the campaign in the sensitive UCs. “We have also started the routine national immunisation campaign in other parts of the district. He said, however, that the police personnel were deployed in the sensitive areas to provide security to the polio teams.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2014.
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government’s “Sehat ka Insaf” programme for polio immunisation has been replicated in eight sensitive union councils (UCs) in Rawalpindi district.
Though district health officials denied having replicated the programme to avoid politicisation, credible sources told The Express Tribune that the polio drops were administered to children aged five and below in the eight UCs under police guard on Sundays. The drive will continue next Sunday as well, the sources said.
Under the ‘Sehat ka Insaf’ strategy, children are vaccinated against polio in risky and highly sensitive areas in K-P on Sundays under strict security. A ban is generally imposed on bike riding, display of weapons and gathering of more than four people for a specific time.
“Due to rampant attacks and killings of health workers in K-P, the idea to administer polio drops on Sundays was first floated by the PTI chief Imran Khan and adopted by the K-P government. The same strategy was also exercised 20 years ago in other countries where the drive would run for two or three days a week,” said an official wishing not to be named.
The official said the drive will be carried out next Sunday as well. The drive continues from 9am till 3pm.
District Health Officer Dr Khalid Randhawa rejected the impression that the K-P government’s strategy has been copied to run the campaign in the sensitive UCs. “We have also started the routine national immunisation campaign in other parts of the district. He said, however, that the police personnel were deployed in the sensitive areas to provide security to the polio teams.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2014.