Capital’s campaign: Fight against polio becomes victim of politics

Admin recalls policemen securing polio workers in light of PTI protests .

ISLAMABAD:

The capital administration on Tuesday postponed the anti-polio drive due to prevailing ‘political uncertainty and unavailability of law enforcement officials’ to provide security to health workers.

The campaign began in the city on December 8 and 81,482 children were vaccinated against the crippling disease on the first day, according to the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC).

Talking to The Express Tribune, NEOC spokesperson Mazhar Nisar said the 1,000 police personnel deployed to secure polio teams were called back by the administration on Tuesday in the wake of demonstrations by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members.



Dr Hassan Urooj, head of the Directorate of Health Services at Capital Development Authority (CDA) said on Tuesday, they received a letter from the deputy commissioner’s office asking them to postpone the campaign till further orders.

“It becomes difficult to manage things when such an unexpected break comes in between ongoing polio campaigns,” he added.

Owing to the acute shortage of vaccinators in the capital, we take help from volunteers of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and the National Institute of Health, among others, he explained.

“It becomes difficult to gather them again once they get a break,” he said.

Mohammad Kashif, in-charge polio cell at the Islamabad Capital Territory, confirmed that the polio drive was postponed to ensure safety of polio workers.

Nationwide campaign

According to data collected by NEOC, 10 million and 832,898 children have been vaccinated against poliovirus throughout the country.

A press release stated that Punjab vaccinated 5 million and 968,789 children, Balochistan 441,886 children, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 1 million and 855,827 children, Sindh 2 million and 204,885 children and G-B and Fata 54,755 and 162,974 respectively.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2014.