Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, on Sunday, formally launched the second phase of Anti-Polio Drive in the province by administering anti-polio drops to kids. A ceremony, in this regard, was held here at Chief Minister’s House Peshawar with Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur as chief guest.
Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Amjad Ali Khan, Secretary Health Mahmood Aslam and other relevant high ups also attended the ceremony. As per details, the second phase of Anti-Polio Drive, kicked off on 3rd March will continue till 7th March 2024, in Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan Divisions except Dera Ismail Khan and Lakki Marwat districts as these districts have already been covered in the first phase of the campaign.
Similarly, immunization campaign suspended in Malakand and Hazara divisons due to heavy rain and snowfall will start on 5th March and continue till 9th March 2024. Moreover, during the immunization campaign, a total of 7.4 million children will be administered anti-polio drops across the province for which 35,000 anti-polio teams have been deployed while around 55000 security personnel have been deputed on their security.
Talking on the occasion, the Chief Minister paid rich tribute to the security personnel and polio workers who embraced martyrdom during the previous anti-polio campaigns and said that they were national heroes as they had laid their lives for the safe and secure future of our children.
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Expressing his resolve for uprooting the menace of polio virus from the province, the Chief Minister said that newly elected government would continue its battle against the crippling disease in a more befitting manner adding that eradication of polio virus from province and country was a national cause and all the stakeholders had to work hand in gloves to achieve the desired results.
He stressed upon the parents to get their children anti-polio vaccine administered and not to boycott the immunization campaign due to lack of any facility in any area as it was the matter of future of our children. He said that provision of basic facilities to people was the responsibility of the government and the newly elected government would take pragmatic steps to ensure availability of basic facilities to the public.
The Chief Minister also urged upon the Ulamas, Media and elected representatives to play their key role in creating awareness among the general public regarding anti-polio vaccine and its importance for the secure future of our children.
Ali Amin Gandapur also appreciated the role of health department and other international partners in eradicating the polio virus and hoped that such efforts would be continued in future in a more effective way.
