For the greater good: Vaccination drive ends in three districts

The fourth and final phase of Sehat ka Insaf immunises thousands of children.

MARDAN/CHARSADDA/SWABI: The Sehat ka Insaf immunisation drive came to an end in Mardan, Charsadda and Swabi with the conclusion of its fourth and final round on Sunday.

Amid strict security provisions, including a ban on motorcycle riding in all three districts, immunisation teams vaccinated thousands of children in the three districts against nine diseases, including polio.

Programme in charge in Mardan Dr Niaz Ali said 1,172 teams participated in the last phase, out of which 30 were deputed at all transport terminals of the district to ensure that no child was left unvaccinated.



“Our teams reached every part of Mardan and we met our target by immunising 271,500 children,” said Dr Ali.

He further said 180 motorcycles were impounded from different areas of the district for violating the ban.

Charsadda

Sehat ka Insaf teams immunised around 253,254 children in Charsadda district.

Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Coordinator Dr Farhad said 1,560 health teams visited 49 union councils of the district and vaccinated children.

The doctor added camps were also set up in Kunda area of Shabqadar and the drive was extended to areas of the district which are adjacent to Mohmand Agency and recently included in Charsadda’s jurisdiction.

According to the EPI official, 2,000 policemen were deputed to maintain law and order.

“Hundreds of motorcycles were impounded for violating the ban and Deputy Commissioner (DC)  Tahir Zafar Abbasi himself visited various areas to supervise the drive,” said Dr Farhad.

DC Abbasi said the last round of the drive ended peacefully because they taken strict security measures and had called in extra security officials from the neighbouring district of Nowshera.

Swabi

DC Kamran Afridi and District Headquarters Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Shafiq inaugurated the drive in Swabi by immunising several children at the hospital.

According to Swabi official of the Sehat ka Insaf drive, more than 1,000 teams took part vaccinated 258,000 children across the district. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28^th, 2014.