278 NWFP families refuse to take 'un-Islamic' anti-polio drops

Peshawar (NWFP, Pakistan), Jan.26 (ANI): At least 278 families in the North West Frontier Province's (NWFP) Upper Dir district have refused to let their children be given anti-polio medicine, describing the drops as 'un-Islamic'.

They have accused the district and health authorities of spearheading a campaign to vaccinate children against the disease as a conspiracy.

The Dawn quoted health officials as saying that parents in Tarpatar, Dir town, Chukiatan, Ganori, Wari, Jabbar, Almas, Bibyawar and Nihagdara did not allow teams to vaccinate children against the crippling disease.

They said that 23 parents in Dir town, six in Chukiatan, 12 in Darora and two in Nihagdara refused to avail the facility.

The officials said that because of the parents' refusal, the drive had to be extended in the region for two days, covering 44 families. During the drive, 94,240 children were given drops, a majority of them (72,898) of ages between 12 and 59 months. (ANI)