LAKKI MARWAT, Aug 17: A high-level meeting here on Friday decided to conduct two special rounds of polio eradication campaign in the district.

The special campaign was necessitated after detection of a confirmed case in Dhoda village here last month.

“Arrangements have been finalised for the two special rounds of anti-polio drive scheduled to commence on Aug 27 and Sept 3 in the district,” executive district officer, health, Dr Abdul Ghaffar told the meeting chaired by district coordination officer Nisar Ahmad. He said that the district health department had constituted 340 mobile, 42 fixed, 10 transit and five roaming teams to immunize 134,714 children below age five.

“Heads of relevant departments have been assigned to monitor the campaign and identify refusal cases and children missed in previous campaigns,” he maintained.

The DCO said that a comprehensive action plan was formulated soon after surfacing of a polio case in a village of Lakki Marwat. He said that the special campaigns were besides the routine immunisation.

He also called for involving female teachers in the special campaigns so as to cover maximum number of children. Mr Ahmad warned that officials showing negligence in anti-polio drive would face disciplinary action.

WHO surveillance officer Dr Adnan Akbar briefed the participants on polio cases across the country, with special focus on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas.

Meanwhile, the DCO has imposed ban on display of weapons and firing in the air during Eidul Fitr.

According to an order, the ban on firing and display of weapons was imposed to ensure peace on the occasion of Eid. The ban will remain in force for 10 days.

In this regard, district police officer Umar Riaz has directed SHOs of all police stations to take measures for implementing ban on firing in the air and display of weapons. Meanwhile, in a function on Friday Mr Nisar distributed Eid gifts among heirs of those police officials who had laid down their lives in the line of duty.