LANDIKOTAL: Political leaders and social figures on Monday threatened to launch a protest movement if the anti-polio vaccination staff was rendered jobless in Khyber district.
Speaking at a press conference at the Landikotal Press Club, they said that any cut in COMNet staff was unacceptable as the Khyber was a sensitive district and faced with volatile security situation.Instead, they argued, the number of workers should be increased to effectively meet public health challenges.
They said that the district was connected with Afghanistan through the Torkham border crossing and considered a high-risk transit point with constant cross-border movement.Combined with displacement from Tirah and the challenge of covering a population exceeding one million, they warned that removing field and communication staff would negatively impact health campaigns.
The ongoing polio campaign, they added, had entered a critical stage and COMNet teams played a key role in community engagement, reducing vaccine refusals and strengthening routine immunisation.They warned that an alleged plan to reduce the staff by 40 percent could lead to increased vaccine refusal and risk the re-emergence of the poliovirus.
