Peshawar (News Desk): A tragic incident occurred in Shakarkhel, Banda Daud Shah Tehsil of Karak, where a polio vaccination team was attacked, leaving one police officer, Irfan, martyred and another worker injured. According to DPO Khan Khail, unidentified assailants on motorcycles targeted the police team. In a separate incident in Bannu’s Kalakhel Masti Khan union council, another polio team came under attack, injuring one person.
The polio vaccination campaign commenced today across Peshawar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, inaugurated by Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Nadeem Aslam Chaudhary. Speaking at the launch, he emphasized the importance of the initiative, noting that the campaign in Peshawar will continue for seven days. He highlighted that 18 polio cases have been reported in the province this year, with the majority emerging from Dera Ismail Khan.
Chaudhary stressed that many children remain unvaccinated, contributing to new cases, and urged public cooperation. He noted that while one strain of the virus has been eradicated, another still poses a threat. “Public awareness about the significance of the polio campaign is crucial,” he stated.
He also pointed out that all hospitals are equipped with polio vaccines and warned of action against parents refusing vaccinations. Authorities have decided to compile data on vaccine-refusing families to take appropriate measures.
In Peshawar, the campaign aims to vaccinate 865,000 children against polio, with 2,529 teams deployed under the supervision of 711 area in-charges. To ensure safety, 3,535 security personnel have been assigned to protect the teams.
However, the polio drive in Kurram district has been postponed due to security concerns, according to the provincial health department. Nationwide, 62 polio cases have been reported this year, with 18 of them in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Alarmingly, over 54,000 parents in the province remain resistant to vaccinating their children.
The provincial government has reiterated its commitment to eradicating the disease, implementing strict security measures, and taking legal action against vaccine refusals.
