Gunmen targeted another polio vaccination team, resulting in the tragic death of one police officer, while another officer sustained injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment
By our correspondent
ORAKZAI AGENCY: In North Waziristan, a polio vaccination campaign faced a severe setback when 15 armed men forcibly seized weapons from three police officers tasked with safeguarding the vaccination team in the Shiwa area. Local authorities confirmed that the officers were on duty to protect the polio workers when the attack occurred. This incident underscores the increasing security challenges faced by vaccination efforts in regions plagued by violence and militancy.
In a separate but related incident in Upper Orakzai’s Dabori area, gunmen targeted another polio vaccination team, resulting in the tragic death of one police officer, while another officer sustained injuries and is currently receiving medical treatment. In response to the attack in Orakzai, police and Frontier Corps personnel initiated a search operation to track down those responsible. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) indicated that security forces are actively working to ensure the safety of vaccination campaigns amid escalating security concerns.
Meanwhile, a new anti-polio campaign has launched in Rawalpindi, aiming to vaccinate over one million children with the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) from October 28 to November 3. To facilitate this effort, more than 1,700 police officers are on duty to provide security for the vaccination teams, which will administer polio drops to children under five years old across all households in the region. The campaign will involve 270 supervisors working in 212 union councils, with support from partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
During the inauguration of the anti-polio campaign, Commissioner Khattak emphasized that eliminating polio is a top priority and that there will be zero tolerance for negligence in vaccination efforts. He called upon parents, teachers, and community members to support the government’s initiatives.
