Campaign struggles: Polio workers denied security in Malir

KARACHI:

On the second day of the polio campaign on Tuesday, the polio workers were denied adequate security arrangements and were forced to suspend the three-day drive.

Confusion prevailed among health officials as to whom they should contact for the security arrangements, said an official, adding that the teams did not start their work where they were denied security, for example in Malir. The provincial government has already planned to launch the drive against the crippling disease among children in three phases but, unfortunately, the first phase seems to be failing. Only 24 policemen and eight Rangers personnel were deployed in four union councils (UCs) of district Malir. "Lack of security arrangements restricted teams to only a few areas of one UC," said a health official. The officer regretted that these hurdles will delay the eradication of the virus from Karachi.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2015.