Daily Times

PESHAWAR: After reviewing the successful campaign in rest of FATA agencies, Emergency Operation Centre, FATA, has welcomed the decision of Agency Polio Eradication Committee (APEC) to start a Polio campaign in Khyber Agency from January 23, 2017.

The EOC also looked at the preparedness of the concerned staff not only in Khyber Agency, but also in Wana tehsil of South Waziristan (SWA).

Regular January campaign was launched on 16th January across the country including all FATA agencies. However, polio campaign in Khyber and Wana Tehsil of SWA were delayed due to administrative reasons.         The APEC meeting was held at Khyber House and was attended by Additional Political Agent, Agency Surgeon Khyber, representatives from WHO, UNICEF and security agencies to discuss the launch of campaign in Khyber Agency on January 23, 2017.

The meeting expressed satisfaction over various community mobilisation efforts carried out throughout FATA agencies, especially in Khyber. They also thanked the community elders for extending their unconditional support to the polio eradication initiatives of government of Pakistan in Khyber areas. Special Jirgas were held with all the community elders during January where large number of local elders attended and announced to support the program. During the APEC meeting, Additional Political Agent assured partners that security will be provided to the teams during campaign.

In a recently held FATA Task Force Meeting at Governor House, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Engr Iqbal Zafar Jhagra said that FATA is almost polio free and by ensuring high quality campaigns and reaching out to each and every child across the agencies will make eradication a reality.

Prime Minister Focal Person for Polio and Senator Aysha Raza Farooq, also attended the occasion. While reminding participants of targets set for the new-year she said, “We have come very close to our goal, but this should not slow us down rather we should aim to carry out three high quality campaigns in the new year and defeat the virus completely by March, 2017, and ensure that we could sustain it for the next three years.

National Control Laboratory for Biologicals issued test reports of vaccines collected from Khyber Agency on December 21st, 2016, following some issues related to vaccine safety. Test results show that no toxic, bacterial or fungal contaminations were found in the vaccine. Collected vaccine passed all the relevant tests and is considered safe.