PESHAWAR: The district administration is all set to initiate 12-day polio eradication campaign from May 23 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with special focus on 40 high risk union councils.

District Coordination Officer (DCO) Siraj Khan addressing a press conference said that three short interval additional dose (SIAD) campaigns are to be observed in 40 high risk union councils from May 23 to 25, May 28 to 30 and June 4 to 7.

He said that over 0.433 million children under 5 years of age in the 40 union councils would be immunized against polio, adding that the help of Ulema and religious scholars have also been sought to make the campaign successful.

He said that the district administration has constituted 876 mobile teams, 99 fixed teams, 88 transit teams and 158 roaming/transit teams for Khyber Internal Displaced Persons would vaccinate the children against the disease.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that the district administration and health teams are committed to eradicating the polio disease from the city and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said Ulema and religious scholars are being engaged to aware the masses about the vacation and convince them to immunize their children without any fear.

He said the role of Ulema and media is very important to make the campaign successful and eradicate the disease from the country.

The DCO informed that Khyber Agency and Barra are among those areas where the children under 5 were not immunized against polio from 2009 due to law and order situation.

He said the 40 high risk union councils include: Shaheed Muslim Town 1, Shaheed Muslim Town 2, Akhunabad, Hazarkhwani 1, Hazarkhwani 2, Urmar Bala, Phandu Musazai, Mera Kachori, Bazid Khel, Surezai Payan, Mera Surezai, Khalisa 1, Khalisa 2, Mehal Terai 2, Yakatoot 1, Yakatoot 2, Yakatoot 3, Pajagi, Larama, Shahi Bagh, Hassan Ghari 1, Sikander Town, Daag, Haryana Payan, Achini, Sarband, Sheikh Muhammadi, Suleman Khel, Sheikhan, Palosi, Malakander, Tehkal Bala, Tehkal Payan 1, Tehkal Payan, Pwawaka, Mattani, Mashogagar, Badaber Maryamzai, Badaber Hurezai and Khanzana.

EDO Health  Dr. Sab Ali Khan, WHO representatives Dr. Johar and Dr. Azam and UNICEF's Dr. Irfan Ali Shah were also present on the occasion. APP