Taking it lightly: CDA complains of inadequate security for polio teams
Only 280 policemen provided against request for 500 cops
"At least one policeman is required to escort one polio team. So, the number of policemen they have provided is insufficient," CDA Director Health Services Dr Hassan Urooj. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD SAQIB/EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
The state’s deficiency to provide security to polio workers can be gauged from the fact the capital administration managed to provide 280 policemen to escort 549 health teams in urban Islamabad against the demand for 500 cops for the first national anti-polio drive which began on Monday.
Meanwhile, a total of 44,229 children were vaccinated on the first day of the campaign in the suburbs of the capital against the set target of 44,288, with 51 parental refusals.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Capital Development Authority (CDA) Director Health Services (DHS) Dr Hassan Urooj said they had requested the deputy commissioner to assign 500 policemen to escort polio teams, however he pledged for 350, but on the first day, they provided only 280 cops.
On the first day of CDA’s anti-polio drive, 96 per cent of the total target of 41,616 children was covered.
“At least one policeman is required to escort one polio team. So, the number of policemen they have provided is insufficient,” he said.
Considering the prevailing security situation in the country there is a need to ensure security to the polio teams at all costs, Dr Urooj said.
Sharing details, he said that a total of 131,832 children under the age of five would be targeted during the drive, of which 30-40 per cent were residing in high-risk zones such as in the urban slums of Golra Sharif, Tarnol and Jhangi Syedan.
“We try our best to manage with the scarce police personnel during the drive but sometimes it becomes really challenging,” said Dr Urooj.
He further informed that to overcome the shortage of polio teams; Shifa International Hospital had provided 44 of their student nurses to facilitate CDA DHS during the campaign.
When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Mujahid Sherdil said they had provided around 500-560 policemen to CDA and Islamabad Capital Territory Administration altogether for the polio campaign.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq launched the national polio campaign at the CDA offices. She appreciated the efforts made by the civic agency for maintaining a polio-free status for the federal capital for the last ten years and hoped it would continue in the future.
An official at the ICT Administration, Mohammad Kashif, informed The Express Tribune that the first day of the drive went smoothly in the suburbs; however, 51 parental refusals were recorded.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 20th, 2015.
The state’s deficiency to provide security to polio workers can be gauged from the fact the capital administration managed to provide 280 policemen to escort 549 health teams in urban Islamabad against the demand for 500 cops for the first national anti-polio drive which began on Monday.
Meanwhile, a total of 44,229 children were vaccinated on the first day of the campaign in the suburbs of the capital against the set target of 44,288, with 51 parental refusals.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Capital Development Authority (CDA) Director Health Services (DHS) Dr Hassan Urooj said they had requested the deputy commissioner to assign 500 policemen to escort polio teams, however he pledged for 350, but on the first day, they provided only 280 cops.
On the first day of CDA’s anti-polio drive, 96 per cent of the total target of 41,616 children was covered.
“At least one policeman is required to escort one polio team. So, the number of policemen they have provided is insufficient,” he said.
Considering the prevailing security situation in the country there is a need to ensure security to the polio teams at all costs, Dr Urooj said.
Sharing details, he said that a total of 131,832 children under the age of five would be targeted during the drive, of which 30-40 per cent were residing in high-risk zones such as in the urban slums of Golra Sharif, Tarnol and Jhangi Syedan.
“We try our best to manage with the scarce police personnel during the drive but sometimes it becomes really challenging,” said Dr Urooj.
He further informed that to overcome the shortage of polio teams; Shifa International Hospital had provided 44 of their student nurses to facilitate CDA DHS during the campaign.
When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Mujahid Sherdil said they had provided around 500-560 policemen to CDA and Islamabad Capital Territory Administration altogether for the polio campaign.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq launched the national polio campaign at the CDA offices. She appreciated the efforts made by the civic agency for maintaining a polio-free status for the federal capital for the last ten years and hoped it would continue in the future.
An official at the ICT Administration, Mohammad Kashif, informed The Express Tribune that the first day of the drive went smoothly in the suburbs; however, 51 parental refusals were recorded.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 20th, 2015.