TIMERGARA, Nov 2: The district administration has threatened to take stern action against the parents, who refuse to administer anti-polio drops to their children below five years of age. “Those refusing anti-polio drops to their children will be punished accordingly,” District Coordination Officer Islam Zeb told a meeting here on Tuesday.

Chairing the meeting of polio eradication committee at his office, the DCO said all out efforts would be made to reach to the children below the age of five years in the district.

EDO Health Dr Shaukat Ali, DOR Akhunzada Gul Wahid, Dr Mehboob, WHO district support officer Sardar Ali, representatives of the local, national and international NGOs, polio campaign supervisor Dr Jehan Zeb and police officers attended the meeting.

The meeting was informed that 273 families of the district refused to administer anti-polio drops to their in the past. “As many as 220,000 including 13,000 Afghan children below five years will be immunised during the three-day drive starting from Nov 8,” Dr Mehboob informed the meeting.

He said that 512 mobile teams, 20 transit teams, 60 fixed teams and eight campaign support teams had been formed for the drive. He said that lady health workers, medical technicians and supervisors would take part in the campaign.

The DCO took notice of the refusal cases and directed officials of the health department to immediately report to him about the families, which were not taking interest in the campaign.

“The nation can no more afford the menace of polio. We will take every possible step to eradicate the crippling disease from the region,” he said. He said that district administration would do its best to make the anti-polio drive a success.