Over 1.07 m kids to be vaccinated in March anti-polio campaign in Bannu & D.I.Khan Divisions: EOC

PESHAWAR: A five days outbreak response campaign (OBR) has been planned in six districts of Bannu and D.I.KhanDivisions from march 14, next wherein over 1.07 million eligible children will be vaccinated against polio.

This was disclosed in a readiness meeting held here Friday at Emergency Operations Center Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (EOC) with Coordinator EOC Abdul Basit in the chair. Deputy EOC Coordinator Zamin Khan, Team Lead UNICEF, Dr Andrew Etsano, Team Leam WHO, Gedi Muhammad, Team Lead N Stop Dr Hafizullah, Technical Focal Person EOC, Dr Imtiaz and officials of health department were also present on the occasion.

The meeting was informed that all necessary operational, communications and security measures have been taken to ensure smooth conduct of the campaign.

In a brief presentation, EOC Coordinator was informed that more than 1.07million children under five years will be administered polio drops in the upcoming OBR campaign planned in Bannu, Lakki Marwat North Waziristan, South Waziristan, Tank and D.I. Khan districts.

To execute the campaign a total of 5711 teams have been constituted out of which 5147 are mobile teams, 278 fixed teams, 249 transit teams and 37 roaming teams, the meeting was informed.
Likewise, to ensure quality of the campaign 1390 area in-charges have been deployed while strict security measures have been taken for safety and security of the teams.

Speaking on the occasion, Additional Secretary Health (polio) and Coordinator EOC, Abdul Basit stressed on improved coordination with district and field staff for bridging operational and communications challenges saying that zero tolerance will be observed for negligence.

He held an appeal to the parents to vaccinate their children in every campaign as move closer to achieving the goal of polio free Pakistan.

Coordinator paid rich tributes to the frontline workers and law enforcement personal for their hard work and commitment saying that the same level of motivation was required at all levels to cleanse the environment from poliovirus and protect children from lifelong paralysis.

Pakistan demands explanation from India over missile fire

SLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad on Saturday said the grave nature of Indian accidental missile-firing had raised several fundamental questions regarding security protocols and technical safeguards against the accidental or unauthorized launch of missiles in a nuclearized environment.

“Indian decision to hold an internal court of inquiry is not sufficient since the missile ended up in Pakistani territory. Pakistan demands a joint probe to accurately establish the facts surrounding the incident,” the spokesperson said in a press release.

The spokesperson said that the whole incident of Indian missile-firing indicated many loopholes and technical lapses of serious nature in its handling of strategic weapons.

“Pakistan, therefore, calls upon the international community to take serious notice of this incident of grave nature in a nuclearized environment and play its due role in promoting strategic stability in the region,” the spokesperson said in a press release.

The spokesperson said that they had taken note of the press statement by the Indian Press Information Bureau’s Defence Wing regretting the “accidental firing” of the Indian origin missile into Pakistani territory on March 9 due to “technical malfunction” and a decision to hold an internal court of inquiry.

“Given the short distances and response times, any misinterpretation by the other side could lead to countermeasures in self-defence with grave consequences.”

The spokesperson demanded an explanation from the Indian side over certain questions arising out of the grave incident.

“Such a serious matter cannot be addressed with the simplistic explanation offered by the Indian authorities. Some of the questions that need to be answered include:

• India must explain the measures and procedures in place to prevent accidental missile launches and the particular circumstances of this incident.

• India needs to clearly explain the type and specifications of the missile that fell in Pakistani territory.
• India also needs to explain the flight path/ trajectory of the accidentally launched missile and how it ultimately turned and entered Pakistan?

• Was the missile equipped with self-destruct mechanism? Why did it fail to actualize?

• Are Indian missiles kept primed for launch even under routine maintenance?

• Why did India fail to immediately inform Pakistan about the accidental launch of the missile and waited to acknowledge it till after Pakistan announced the incident and sought clarification?

• Given the profound level of incompetence, India needs to explain if the missile was indeed handled by its armed forces or some rogue elements?”

Indian defence ministry in a statement issued in New Delhi on Friday said, “On March 9, 2022, in the course of routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile.”– APP