The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with district administration and directorate of health services in Landi Kotal on Thursday embarked on a campaign to raise awareness about measles and polio amid fears over rising cases of highly contagious infectious diseases caused by the measles and polio viruses, respectively.
Reportedly, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) regional team leader Dr Abdul Qayyum presided over the awareness session as the chief guest, while World Health Organisation (WHO) area coordinator Dr Misal Khan, Field Supervisor Medical Officer (FSMO) Dr Usman Afridi, Landi Kotal Assistant Commissioner (AC) Muhammad Imran, tribal elders, journalists, administrative officials and members of civil society were also present on the occasion.
The 12-day anti-measles and anti-polio drive will be launched across the country from October 15 to 27.
Meanwhile, Dr Qayyum asserted that the campaign would ensure safeguarding children from fatal diseases and urged religious scholars, teachers and elected representatives to play their due role in the anti-measles and anti-polio campaign by ensuring preventive measures for their children against diseases.
He further remarked that anti-measles and anti-polio vaccination would significantly reduce risk of infection for vaccinated children as compared to unvaccinated children.
The representatives urged tribesmen to ensure that their children are vaccinated in the 12-day drive.
“Poliovirus is in the last stages of eradication, however the task requires collective effort,” the AC revealed.
He further assured to extend assistance in the drive, and pleaded with the media to join hands with their teams and help remove common misconceptions regarding vaccination of the diseases.
Later, a child was administered anti-measles dose to formally kick-off the drive.
Published in Daily Times, September 12th 2018.