FAIZABAD - A three-day anti-polio campaign with focus on 5,000 children missed in previous drives due to Taliban’s opposition was launched in northeastern Badakhshan province on Monday.
Launched by the World Health Organization (WHO), the polio vaccination campaign --- the first phase of spring vacation --- would cover 19 districts in Badakhshan, said Asadullah Naeemi, WHO country director.
He said since 2016 till now 5,000 children in Raghistan and Kohistan districts could not be administered polio drops to the opposition of Taliban.
Naeemi added in 2017, around 6,000 children were missed out in Warduj district alone. He expressed delight over the launch of today’s polio vaccination drive that followed efforts by local elders.
Syed Farooq Nasar, a senior official at the Public Health Department, said 200,000 children in 19 Badakhshan districts would receive polio drops in the first spring campaign.
In addition 170,000 children under fives year of age would be provided with Vitamin A tablets. (Pajhwok)