PESHAWAR, Oct 12: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is struggling to contain polio due to influx of children from the restive Federally Administrative Tribal Areas and Afghanistan, according to Expanded Programme on Immunisation deputy director Dr Janbaz Afridi.

“However, serious efforts are underway to defeat the crippling disease and we are hopeful that they’ll bear fruit,” Dr Janbaz told a seminar on public awareness of polio at Peshawar Press Club.

Pakistan People’s Party provincial president Anwar Saifullah Khan was the chief guest on the occasion, while noted among speakers were provincial director general (health services) Dr Rohullah Jan, World Health Organisation’s Dr Ubaidul Salam, United Nations Children Fund’s Dr Jamil and Dr Gulshan.

The EPI deputy director said around 5.2 million children under five would be given anti-polio drops in 25 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from October 15 to October 18.

He said 1,584 teams had been formed under the supervision of the in charge of more than 2,950 areas to carry out anti-polio campaign in a benefiting manner.

All speakers urged the government, media, religious scholars, donors and doctors to join hands for better public awareness of polio and its adverse effects on human life to contain the crippling disease.

They highlighted the significance of anti-polio drops, saying they could help protect children against lifetime physical disability. They pushed media and religious scholars for sensitising people to the benefits of anti-polio drops.

Some speakers urged people to ensure administration of vitamin A to children, saying it could protect them against measles and respiratory problems, besides increasing resistance.

The PPP president said combating polio was a daunting task for authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata, which reported most of the nationwide polio cases chiefly due to the influx of Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons from the restive tribal areas.

He urged religious scholars, tribal elders, media and other educated people to sensitise people to the significance of anti-polio drops, saying it could save future of the new generation.

Mr Anwar said it was the prime responsibility of the people’s elected representatives to create public awareness of immunisation in their respective constituencies.He said his party would launch a special public campaign to highlight importance of anti-polio vaccination in the province.

“We’ll extend all possible support from the party platform for polio elimination from the province,” he said.

The immunisation campaign was later launched after the PPP president administered anti-polio drops to children.