District administration Kohat has directed the activation of polio teams for the success of upcoming anti-polio campaign in all aspects, their monitoring and strict action against those not extending cooperation to them. These directives were issued during a meeting of the District Anti-Polio Committee held in DC Office Kohat with Deputy Commissioner, Akmal Khan Khattak in the chair.
Besides, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Fazal Qadir Khattak, Assistant Commissioner (AC) Lachi, Piao Khan, the officials of health and other concerned departments also attended the meeting. The meeting was told that the upcoming four-day anti-polio campaign is scheduled to be carried from September 18 to August 21, 2017. During the campaign 193,500 children below five years age will be administered Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV) in 33 union councils of the district. For this purpose, 184 Area Incharge and 700 teams have been formed.
Addressing the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner termed the eradication of polio a big challenge and matter of life and death for the country and stressed need for every member of the society to play role in its complete root-out. He said that the whole world has succeeded in the eradication of this crippling disease, but Pakistan is included those unfortunate states where this disease still exists. The Deputy Commissioner clarified that making the anti-polio campaign a success in any circumstances is their mission and they will not tolerate any hurdle in this regard.
He said that it is highly encouraging that since November 2014 no polio case had registered in Kohat and credit for it goes to all concerned agencies and authorities. However, he still directed the concerned authorities for further accelerating the anti-polio campaign and ensuring access to every child below the age of five years and no children remain uncovered. The Deputy Commissioner also appealed the parents that they must administered polio drops to their children for the sake of saving them from lifelong disability and play their due role in turning Pakistan into a polio free state.