Anti-polio worker attacked, injured in Larkana

A lady health worker (LHW) was attacked by an unidentified accused during anti-polio vaccination in Rishma Gali area of Larkana on Tuesday. The attacked coincided with an IED blast that claimed the life a policeman and left two others injured in Kulachi area Dera Ismail Khan.

The policemen came across the incident while aboard a police mobile van deployed for security of anti-polio workers.

The LHW identified as Razia sustained multiple injuries during the stone attack and was taken to hospital. The attacker, however, managed to flee the scene.

The police, despite being informed, failed to turned up at the scene or initiate any effort to track down the culprit.

Attacks on anti-polio workers are common in various parts of the country, especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. This is one of the biggest hindrances to eradication the crippling disease from the country.

On January 20, two anti-polio workers were killed when their team came under attack in Parmolo area of District Swabi.

At least three anti-polio workers were killed in April, 2019, following which thousands of parents had refused to allow their children to be inoculated.

Last year, the government formed the National Strategic Advisory Group (NSAG) to tackle polio eradication. The NSGA has representatives from leading political parties who have worked on polio eradication programmes in previous governments. The broad-based body was constituted in consultation with Prime Minister Imran Khan and is led by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza.