Via The News International: Current anti-polio drive may yield better output. Excerpt:
The anti-polio drive launched here in the district on Monday may yield better output, as the concerned government authorities have taken an initiative to take population with Pakhtun origin in confidence though the step was not made public.
‘The News’ has learnt through reliable sources that a Pakhtun ‘Loyya Jirga’ was held here in a local hotel two days back, on Saturday that was attended by nearly one hundred Pakhtun notables belonging to areas of the district with significantly heavy Pakhtun population.
The city district government along with the provincial and federal level stakeholders facilitated the Jirga to take Pakhtun population in confidence on the subject of administration of anti-polio vaccine to children below five years of age. The initiative has been taken for the first time in the district.
Normally, it is an impression that Pakhtun population is resistant to administration of polio vaccine to their children mainly because of three reasons, which were discussed in detail in the Jirga. Many Pakhtuns say that the polio vaccine contains ‘haram’ material, causes impotence in males and is substandard.
Health professionals from district, provincial and federal government negotiated with the Pakhtun notables to remove their concerns. After negotiations, the Pakhtun notables assured the health professionals that they would help administer polio vaccine to their children along with children of the families living under their influence.
Pakhtun notables were from union councils one to 10 of Rawal Town, Wards 9 and 10 of cantonment board and from five union councils with heavy Pakhtun population in Tehsil Taxila. It is learnt that the Loyya Jirga was not made public because of security reasons.
