Mardan Div. Commissioner Launches Anti-Polio Campaign

FAZAL HAQ

Mardan: Commissioner Mardan Division, Nisar Ahmed has directed the relevant quarters to make sure that all children up to five years of age are given polio vaccine drops during the five-day anti-polio campaign starting from February 3, in Mardan and Swabi. He further directed law enforcing agencies to take all necessary steps for the protection of polio teams. He was addressing a meeting of the Divisional Polio Task Force in the conference room of the Commissioner’s office here On Friday. Deputy Commissioner Swabi Nasrullah Khan, DPO Mardan Zahoor Babar Afridi, DPO Swabi Muhammad Azhar Khan, ADC Saeedullah Jan, DHO Mardan Dr. Javed Iqbal and DHO Swabi Dr Abdul Latif besides officers Education Department, WHO N-Staff Officer, representatives of national security agencies and other concerned officials of the Health Department attended. While giving a briefing to Commissioner Mardan Division, it was said that during this campaign, 443 thousand 31 children under the age of five years in Mardan and more than 292 thousand 986 children in Swabi district will be given polio vaccine drops. Commissioner Mardan Division Nisar Ahmed stressed for taking all necessary steps for better monitoring of training system of polio teams, reduction of refusals and deployment of communication staff in Swabi. He said that eradication of polio is a national cause and any hurdle will not be tolerated in the way of accomplishment of polio eradication. The strategy for the protection of polio teams was also discussed in the meeting. Commissioner Mardan directed the law enforcement agencies to ensure foolproof arrangements for the protection of polio teams. He said that by making the polio campaign successful, we can save our new generation from the dangerous disease of polio. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Mardan Dr. Azmatullah Wazir has imposed a complete ban on pillion riding, vehicles with tented glasses and display of weapons from 03 February to 07 February 2025 under Section 144 of the Pakistan Penal Code in the context of polio campaign. Violators will be prosecuted under Section 188 P.P.C.