6.5m children to be vaccinated in KP from April 13
DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah on Wednesday underscored the importance of strengthening routine immunisation, describing it as the most effective strategy to eliminate the poliovirus from the province.
Speaking at an inauguration ceremony at the Police Services Hospital, where he administered anti-polio drops to children, the chief secretary said the provincial government had set a target of achieving 90 per cent immunisation coverage by 2027 and expressed confidence that sustained efforts would help curb the virus’s spread.
He said that while notable progress had been made, challenges persisted in the southern and merged districts, adding that these were being addressed through improved security arrangements and enhanced community engagement during vaccination campaigns.
Emphasising the need for sustained awareness, he called for active community participation to overcome vaccine hesitancy. “Community ownership is crucial to ensure that no child is left unvaccinated,” he said.
Responding to media queries, Mr Shahab said that districts, particularly Peshawar, which had previously reported positive environmental samples, were now showing encouraging improvement. He noted that recent samples from Peshawar had tested negative for the virus, indicating effective containment measures.
He also praised polio workers, health teams and district administrations for their efforts, urging them to maintain the same level of commitment for the successful execution of upcoming campaigns.
Later, the chief secretary chaired a meeting of the Polio Eradication Task Force to review preparations for the next campaign. The meeting was attended by representatives of development partners, health officials and members of the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre.
Officials informed the meeting that around 6.5 million children would be vaccinated during the province-wide anti-polio campaign starting April 13.
