PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s northwestern district of Mardan is becoming a major threat in terms of polio eradication efforts as parents of 8,495 children refused to administer polio vaccination in November’s immunisation campaign in the district.
Data revealed by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) health department shows 28,731 refusals from the province in the November campaign.
A list from the provincial control room’s data for November recorded the number of refusals based on a three-day drive.
According to the district lists, Peshawar emerged as the second district where 3,856 refusals were recorded. Similarly Nowshera had 3,499 refusals, Bannu 3,460, Abbottabad 490, Battagram 47, Buner 18, Charsadda 1,006, two each in Chitral and Upper Dir, DI Khan 648 refusals, Lower Dir 26, Hangu 204, Karak 1,432, Kohat 1,269, five in Kohistan, Lakki Marwat 2,820, Manshera 706 refusals, Swat 217, nine in Tank.
A total of 141 refusals were reported from Torghar district.
The nature of refusals was driven by a number of factors and they will be thoroughly checked in order to control the dangerous trend of parents refusing to vaccinate children. INTERNEWS
