Like other parts of the country three-day door-to-door anti-polio drive continue here in the city. Khateeb Shahi Masjid Chitral, Maulana Khaleequz Zaman inaugurated the campaign, while EDO Health Dr Sher Qayum, Medical Superintendent of DHQ Hospital Dr Nazir Ahmed, EPI Co-ordinator Dr Inayatullah were also present on the occasion.
Addressing the ceremony, EDO Health said that there were only 15 polio cases in Pakistan in past, but recently the number of cases has increased and now 70 polio cases has been registered throughout the country, out of which 30 cases were detected in Peshawar due to the refusal from immunising polio drops. Maulana Khaleequz Zaman said that Islam believes in health and cleanliness for the protection of life and improving hygienic conditions.
He maintained that there are no Islamic barriers in administering polio drops to children to save them from this crippling disease. To make polio drive a successful, EPI has constituted 231 mobile teams, while polio drops would also be administered at 29 fixed centers to some 75,700 children upto the age of five years.
Similarly anti-polio drops will also be given to children at three transit points, while the drive will be monitored by three campaign support persons, 7 district health teams, 4 independent monitors and one district survival officer. On this occasion, EPI Co-ordinator Dr Inayatullah appealed to parents to inform them if a health team does not reach their area at toll free number 0800-12012.