DLP Report
PESHAWAR
A five-day anti-polio campaign is set to launch across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from May 26, aiming to vaccinate approximately 7.3 million children under the age of five. The campaign was formally inaugurated on Friday by Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shahab Ali Shah, at Police Services Hospital, Peshawar, where he administered oral polio vaccine drops to children.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Additional Secretary Health and EOC Coordinator Shafiullah Khan, Deputy Coordinator EOC Muhammad Zeeshan Khan, representatives from UNICEF and WHO, and other concerned officials.
Speaking to the media on the occasion, the Chief Secretary emphasized that polio remains a dangerous disease that can cause lifelong disability in children, placing immense emotional and financial strain on families. He stressed that the presence of the poliovirus in any area continues to pose a threat to all children, making it vital that every child receives the vaccine during the campaign.
Highlighting the critical role of community support, Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah urged all segments of society – particularly religious leaders, civil society, and the media – to play an active role in eradicating the virus. He noted that print, electronic, and social media platforms should raise awareness among parents about the importance of vaccination and the risks associated with refusing it.
He reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to eradicating polio on a priority basis. “At the district level, Deputy Commissioners and District Health Officers supervise the anti-polio drives on a daily basis to ensure effective implementation,” he added.
The Chief Secretary also pointed out that a successful campaign was conducted in April due to improved strategies and public cooperation, which significantly contributed to achieving the set targets. He expressed hope that the upcoming campaign would yield even better results.
The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has finalized all arrangements for the campaign. A total of 35,465 trained polio workers have been deployed, forming 32,155 mobile teams, 1,918 fixed-site teams, 1,225 transit teams, and 167 roaming teams.
Furthermore, 8,351 area in-charges have been appointed to ensure effective monitoring of the campaign. Security arrangements have also been made across the province to facilitate polio teams during the campaign.
