Monday, August 17, 2009

Traffic police establish polio points in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: National Programme Manager of Expanded Programme for Immunisation (EPI) Dr Altaf Bosan has said that cooperation of traffic police in polio vaccination drive is a unique initiative, which will help in eradication of the disease.

Dr Bosan expressed these views while inaugurating the polio points established by the Peshawar Traffic Police in a ceremony held at the Police Lines. Constables of traffic police will administer polio drops to children at these points. He said the NWFP and Fata were high-risk zones for polio infections because of the law and order and inaccessibility to the deserving and needy children.

The polio points administering vaccines to the children at various entry and exit points of the city would help immunise the children of the far-flung and remote areas of NWFP, he added. Dr Bosan reaffirmed the resolve and commitment of EPI to eradicate polio saying that it is the right of every child to get immunised and be protected against the crippling disease. He said due to concerted and well-coordinated efforts of EPI, zero cases of polio had been reported so far in Peshawar district this year.

Dr Abdul Jabbar of the World Health Organisation said that during 2009, only 16 cases of polio had been reported in NWFP and Fata of which 9 cases had been in unreachable areas of Bajaur Agency.

Feroz Shah, DIG traffic police, assured full cooperation and support for the polio drive. He also announced prizes worth Rs25,000, Rs15,000 and Rs10,000 for the best police teams in the immunization drive.

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