Before the start of an anti-polio campaign, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa enforced Section 144.
december 15, khyber pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan: According to ARY news on Sunday, Bannu, khyber pakhtunkhwa, has been placed under Section 144 for seven days in advance of the anti-polio operation that is scheduled to begin on december 16. The limitations will take effect immediately throughout the area for the upcoming week, according to Deputy Commissioner Abdul Hameed. Among the measures are restrictions on the use of tinted windows in automobiles, a ban on carrying guns, and a ban on two individuals riding motorcycles together. These actions have been done in anticipation of the anti-polio campaign, which is scheduled to start tomorrow, Hameed added. He also issued a warning that there would be severe legal repercussions for anyone discovered to be breaking the rules.
According to ARY news, khyber pakhtunkhwa is notably commencing the anti-polio campaign on december 16 to address persistent issues such vaccination refusals, missed targets, phoney finger marking, and a lack of collaboration from district administrations and local health officials. According to the National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), pakistan confirmed four additional cases of polio earlier on december 13, bringing the total for 2024 to 63. According to The news International, the new instances were found in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Jacobabad, and Sukkur, with the Sukkur case being the first in the region. According to the EOC, the most recent incidence is the third in Jacobabad and the ninth in Dera Ismail Khan, while the youngster in Sukkur who is impacted is a boy. There have been 26 polio cases in Balochistan, 18 in khyber pakhtunkhwa, 17 in Sindh, and one in each of punjab and Islamabad this year. Children under five are most commonly affected by polio, a highly contagious viral disease, particularly those with weakened immune systems or inadequate immunisations.
A high-level committee has been established by health authorities to improve coordination between the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) and the polio Eradication Initiative (PEI), as more than 60% of children afflicted by polio in 2024 did not obtain routine vaccinations. Disclaimer: No changes have been made to the text of this post; it was automatically published from an agency feed without editor review.