Staff Report
PESHAWAR: The Anti-Polio Task Force meeting was held here on Thursday with Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shahab Ali Shah, in the chair to review preparations for the upcoming National Immunization Campaign across the province.
During the meeting, the Coordinator of the Provincial Emergency Operation Centre (PEOC) briefed the forum on pre-campaign activities, arrangements for campaign days, team formations, monitoring mechanisms, data collection processes, and the post-campaign assessment framework. The meeting was also apprised of strategic vaccination plans for the southern districts and Peshawar, as well as area-specific interventions in locations where poliovirus environment sampling remains positive.
The session was attended by Secretary Health, senior officials of the Health Department, officers from the National Emergency Operations Center Islamabad, representatives of international partner organizations working on polio eradication, and officials from the police and law-enforcement agencies.
Chairing the meeting, the Chief Secretary conducted a detailed review of the situation in the Hazara Division, where environmental samples in the recent past tested positive for poliovirus. He also examined the special measures being implemented to enhance the effectiveness of the campaign in Peshawar – the provincial capital and a high-risk area.
CS Shahab Ali Shah further assessed the preparedness of the southern districts and the merged districts to ensure smooth and effective campaign execution. He appreciated the performance of several districts that succeeded in turning previously positive polio samples negative through strong and well-coordinated vaccination drives. He made special mention of districts in the Hazara Division where concerted efforts have significantly reduced the risk of poliovirus transmission.
Issuing directives to the Health Department and the PEOC, the Chief Secretary stressed the importance of ensuring comprehensive geographic coverage, improved household access, and strict follow-up on missed children to achieve a stronger and more effective campaign. He said he would continue to review and monitor progress throughout the campaign period.
CS Shahab Ali Shah emphasized the need for enhanced vigilance, timely identification of gaps, and immediate response to address operational challenges. He also instructed authorities to ensure robust security arrangements, particularly for vaccination teams working in sensitive and high-risk areas.
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