KOHAT: Kohat division commissioner Syed Motasim Billah Shah has urged the people not to link polio vaccination of their children with common demands like electricity and gas supply and construction of roads because such an attitude compromised the health of their children and their future.
Emphasising the importance of polio drops for children, he said the society as a whole must protect children from lifelong disability.
He made the appeal while addressing an awareness session held in the wake of the recent boycott of the polio campaign by the people of some Lachi tehsil union councils.
MPA Daud Shah Afridi, Lachi tehsil chairman Ehsan Khan, coordinator of the expanded programme on immunisation Dr Mohabbat Ali Bangash and others who also spoke on the occasion.
Frontline polio workers and community members were also in attendance.
The commissioner appealed to the parents to allow polio drops to their children as it was their national responsibility.
MPA Daud Afridi prevailed upon the elders to separate their daily life demands from polio drops. He called for not only vaccinating children against polio but also against 12 other diseases under the EPI programme.
Mr Afridi urged the community to trust their government and seek guidance from religious leaders to clear any misunderstanding about polio vaccination.
The MPA emphasised the need for the adoption of a coherent strategy on polio vaccination and taking influential leaders into confidence for dealing with polio refusal cases.
EPI coordinator Dr Bangash emphasised the need for addressing the issues faced by frontline workers. He said the session aimed to create awareness about the importance of polio vaccination and to address the misconceptions and concerns of people.
Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2024
