Immunisation campaign launched in Swat
More than 0.4 million children to be vaccinated.
MINGORA:
A polio campaign has been launched in Swat on an emergency basis after two polio cases surfaced from the district after a gap of about five years.
According to a press release issued from the district health office, more than 1,200 mobile, fixed and transit teams are participating in the drive to eradicate the crippling virus from Swat.
The district health office plans to vaccinate 0.4 million children in all 65 union councils of the district.
Swat Deputy Commissioner Mahmood Aslam Wazir said negligence would not be tolerated. “Strict legal action will be taken against those who show laxity in carrying out the campaign,” he said. The DC added all relevant departments have been involved in the drive to ensure 100% coverage.
The district government sprang into action after the valley’s first polio case was reported in the last week of November, a 21-month-old child from Shalpin Tarogey area in Khawzakhela tehsil.
A three-day drive began amid tight security on December 8 to vaccinate children and at least two people were arrested from Nagoha, Barikot tehsil for stopping a member of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) team from carrying out vaccination. The DC personally monitored the campaign and visited several localities to ensure no child had been missed.
The second polio case was reported from the same village on Saturday.
During militancy in Swat, the Taliban had banned polio vaccination and more than 20 cases were reported from the valley in 2009 as a result.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2014.
A polio campaign has been launched in Swat on an emergency basis after two polio cases surfaced from the district after a gap of about five years.
According to a press release issued from the district health office, more than 1,200 mobile, fixed and transit teams are participating in the drive to eradicate the crippling virus from Swat.
The district health office plans to vaccinate 0.4 million children in all 65 union councils of the district.
Swat Deputy Commissioner Mahmood Aslam Wazir said negligence would not be tolerated. “Strict legal action will be taken against those who show laxity in carrying out the campaign,” he said. The DC added all relevant departments have been involved in the drive to ensure 100% coverage.
The district government sprang into action after the valley’s first polio case was reported in the last week of November, a 21-month-old child from Shalpin Tarogey area in Khawzakhela tehsil.
A three-day drive began amid tight security on December 8 to vaccinate children and at least two people were arrested from Nagoha, Barikot tehsil for stopping a member of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) team from carrying out vaccination. The DC personally monitored the campaign and visited several localities to ensure no child had been missed.
The second polio case was reported from the same village on Saturday.
During militancy in Swat, the Taliban had banned polio vaccination and more than 20 cases were reported from the valley in 2009 as a result.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2014.