The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government plans to deploy 35,000 security personnel for a four-day polio vaccination campaign across 23 districts, ensuring tight security for the polio teams throughout the initiative.
The campaign is set to begin on May 18, at the same time in all districts of the Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan Divisions, along with Abbottabad, Torghar, Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan, Kolai-Palas, Bajaur, Lower Dir, Mohmand, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Khyber, Kohat, Hangu, Kurram, and Karak districts. During this campaign, over 4.6 million children are expected to receive polio drops.
This information was revealed during a meeting of the Provincial Task Force on Polio Eradication, which reviewed the detailed preparations for the upcoming four-day anti-polio campaign scheduled to begin later this month in 23 districts across the province.
The Chief Secretary emphasised that Pakistan is nearing the complete eradication of polio and highlighted that targeted micro-planning, effective monitoring, and improved campaign quality would contribute to eliminating the disease from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
He instructed authorities to focus on micro-planning in regions where new cases have been reported and to change existing planning deficiencies while mentioning that the provincial government follows a policy of accountability and recognition in its anti-polio initiatives.
Districts displaying poor performance have been urged to improve, while officers and polio workers who show remarkable performance despite challenges are being recognised.
The KP Chief Secretary also announced that vaccinators would receive modern mobile phones to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the anti-polio campaigns.
In acknowledging the contributions of polio workers, district administrations, and relevant personnel, he directed that special attention be given to the May campaign, particularly in the southern districts.
Read more: Polio drive set for May 18–24 across 79 Pakistani districts
