PESHAWAR; The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has finalized arrangements for a province-wide anti-polio campaign starting April 21. The decision was made during a meeting of the Provincial Task Force on Anti-Polio, chaired by Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah. The meeting reviewed ongoing efforts and prepared for the upcoming vaccination drive, aiming to protect 6.5 million children across all districts. Special attention will be given to 276 high-risk union councils where polio remains a major threat.
Attended by senior officials, health experts, and representatives from UNICEF and WHO, the meeting emphasized the need for strong coordination. Commissioners, police officers, and district health teams joined via video link. The Health Department reported that staff training for the campaign is complete, and plans are in place to boost community participation.
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Chief Secretary Shah urged deputy commissioners and health workers to treat the campaign as a national duty. “Protecting children from polio should be our top priority,” he said. He stressed the importance of data-driven planning and addressing challenges like vaccine refusal and missed children. District-level reports on polio monitoring were also reviewed, with Shah emphasizing that performance will be measured through quality checks.
The Chief Secretary called for accountability in polio communication efforts, saying a transparent system is crucial to eliminating the disease completely. The campaign will focus on precise micro-planning and community engagement to ensure no child is left unvaccinated.
