PROVINCE REPORT
PESHAWAR: Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shahab Ali Shah, has reaffirmed the provincial government’s firm commitment to the complete eradication of the poliovirus, stating that regular anti-polio campaigns are being conducted to protect children from the crippling disease.
He urged parents to fully cooperate with frontline health workers visiting their doorsteps to administer polio drops, emphasizing that the vaccine provides lifelong protection against permanent disability caused by polio and ensures a healthy future for children.
He expressed these views while chairing a meeting of the Provincial Task Force on Polio Eradication, where detailed preparations for the four-day anti-polio campaign scheduled to begin later this month in 23 districts across the province were reviewed.
The Chief Secretary said that Pakistan is close to eliminating polio entirely and stressed that focused micro-planning, effective monitoring, and improved campaign quality would help eradicate the disease from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well. He directed authorities to pay special attention to micro-planning in areas where new cases have emerged and to address existing gaps in planning.
He stated that the provincial government is following a policy of accountability and recognition in anti-polio efforts. Districts showing weak performance have been instructed to improve, while officers and polio workers demonstrating strong performance despite challenges are being appreciated.
The Chief Secretary further directed officials to focus particularly on post-campaign catch-up activities and stressed that no compromise should be made on the quality of the campaign. He announced that vaccinators would be provided with modern mobile phones to further enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of anti-polio drives.
Appreciating the efforts of polio workers, district administrations, and relevant staff, he directed that special focus be given to the May campaign, particularly in the southern districts, to ensure achievement of campaign targets.
The Provincial EOC Coordinator, while briefing the meeting, informed participants that the anti-polio campaign starting from May 18 would simultaneously be launched in all districts of Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan divisions, as well as in Abbottabad, Torghar, Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan, Kolai-Palas, Bajaur, Lower Dir, Mohmand, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Khyber, Kohat, Hangu, Kurram, and Karak districts. More than 4.6 million children will be administered polio drops during the campaign. In Peshawar and Khyber districts, the campaign will continue for seven days.
Highlighting the importance of immunization in preventing vaccine-preventable diseases, Shahab Ali Shah said the Health Department is strengthening and streamlining the immunization system across the province to improve coverage of polio vaccination and other routine immunization services aimed at protecting children against twelve different preventable diseases.
For the May anti-polio campaign, 22,450 trained polio teams have been formed, including 20,507 mobile teams, 1,113 fixed teams, and 830 transit teams. In addition, 5,444 area in-charges have been deployed to ensure effective supervision of the campaign. He added that nearly 35,000 security personnel would be deployed across the concerned districts to ensure fool proof security for polio teams during the campaign.
