KP Health Minister Khaliq-ur-Rehman inaugurates the province-wide September polio campaign, with 50,000 security personnel deployed for the drive.
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister Khaliq-ur-Rehman on Sunday inaugurated the September polio vaccination campaign across the province, with authorities setting a target of administering polio drops to around 7.3 million children under the age of 5.
The campaign will be conducted in all districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In most districts, the vaccination drive will continue from Sept. 21 to 24, 2026, while the campaign in Peshawar and Khyber will run from Sept. 21 to 27.
According to officials, around 6.5 million households will be reached during the campaign. Approximately 35,000 polio teams have been formed for the drive, while around 75,000 personnel, including polio workers, area in-charges and union council medical officers, will take part in the campaign.
Around 50,000 security personnel will also be deployed to protect vaccination teams and ensure the peaceful conduct of the campaign.
Speaking at the inauguration, Khaliq-ur-Rehman said the complete eradication of polio was a national responsibility and required coordinated efforts by the health department, district administrations, law enforcement agencies, media, religious scholars, medical experts, educational institutions and civil society.
He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was taking steps to strengthen the health system, improve basic health facilities, enhance human resources and upgrade health infrastructure.
The minister said the immunization system was also being further integrated to provide children with effective protection against polio and other infectious diseases.
He appealed to parents and guardians to ensure that every child under the age of 5 receives polio drops during the campaign. He said reaching every child and ensuring that no child remained unvaccinated was essential for completely eliminating the disease.
According to a briefing given on the occasion, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 20 polio cases in 2025, while three cases have been reported in the province so far in 2026. Two of the 2026 cases were reported in Bannu and one in North Waziristan.
Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shahab Ali Shah, Health Secretary Fayyaz Ali Shah, Emergency Operations Centre Coordinator Shafiullah Khan, representatives of partner organizations, heads of polio teams and media representatives attended the event.
Khaliq-ur-Rehman appreciated the efforts of polio workers, security personnel and relevant institutions and expressed his commitment to accelerating coordinated efforts to eradicate polio from the province.
About The Author
