28 vehicles handed over to EPI co-ordinators

Staff Report

PESHAWAR: NWFP Minister for Health Syed Zahir Ali Shah on Sunday handed over keys of 28 vehicles to Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) coordinators to strengthen immunisation activities in the province aimed at stopping the spread of polio virus.

The keys were handed over at a ceremony held at a local hotel. Health Director General Dr Sajjad Shaheen, EPI Deputy Director Dr Mujahid and WHO team leader Dr Abdul Jabbar were also present on the occasion.

Addressing the ceremony, the health minister said that the EPI coordinators had been provided transport facilities in all districts of the province. “The vehicles will help the EPI staff overcome the difficulties they were facing in mobilization,” Shah said.

The minister directed district coordinators to gear up their activities. He said, “Now there should be no excuse and not a single child should remain deprived of polio drops and vitamin A supplements.”

Shah said that only EPI coordinators were entitled to use the vehicles for immunisation purposes.

Speaking on the occasion, the EPI deputy director said that vehicles would ensure full coverage and help in achieving the objective of immunisation.

After detection of 44 polio cases in the NWFP, situation had worsened. Efforts are being made to control the spread of polio virus. The Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI) provided 28 vehicles to strengthen monitoring of immunisation in the province. Each district has been given one vehicle, while due to peculiar conditions, districts of Kohistan and Hangu have been provided two vehicles each.

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