In a bid to force/convince parents from 250 families for allowing children to get anti-polio vaccination in a South Waziristan village, political administration arrested at least seven persons including a tribal elder.
Whereas the health authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were also making in efforts to ensure vaccination to around 3500 children whom parent’s had refused vaccination in recently concluded anti-polio campaign.
Reports from Wana revealed that on the directives of political agent, seven persons belonging to Shahkot village were arrested. The arrested persons including tribal elder Malik Mir Aslam from Tojaykhel clan of Ahmadzai Wazir are being convinced by the civil administration to get their kids vaccinated.
Tribesmen from the area in reaction to administration reluctance of addressing their genuine demands have refused to allow vaccinating of children below five years of age. Malik Mir Aslam talking to media said they were well aware about importance of anti-polio campaign but the administration creating problems for them. He urged the administration to review its policies.
On the other hand, South Waziristan Political Agent Kamran Afridi said that efforts to eradicate polio of its roots were according to UN Charter and the government was determined to ensuring vaccinating to all children. “The government and International community as well consuming maximum resources on eradication of polio, therefore, tribesmen must ensure their role in these efforts,” he remarked. He said that all these tribesmen would remain behind the bars till allowing/ensuring vaccinating of all children.
A couple of days ago, a number of tribesmen including elders and their close relatives from another Khojalkhel clan of Ahmadzai Wazir were also detained when they refused to vaccinate the children. Later, they were freed when they agreed for vaccination.
In tribal areas, administration was detaining people in polio refusal cases under black laws of Frontier Crimes Regulations whereas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa people on such issue were arrested under Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).
On the other hand, around 40,000 children below five years were left in the recently concluded anti-polio campaign in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Amongst them around 35,000 children were not present at home during the campaign whereas parents of 4800 children had refused to vaccinate the children.
Mohammad Khalid Focal Person of Health Department in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa talking to VOA, said that almost of missing children were being vaccinated whereas through elders and religious leaders were being approached to make agree the parents for allowing vaccinating of their children. He said that government was firm to ensure an end to polio virus by end of coming March.