SWABI: Extraordinary security arrangements were made for the four-day anti-polio campaign that was launched here on Monday.

It was the first anti-polio drive in Swabi after the killing of Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) district coordinator Dr Mohammad Yaqoob, who was shot dead by militants on November 30.

The campaign scheduled for December 17 could not be carried out because the EPI staff and other health workers were demanding adequate security.

However, the district administration, in a meeting held here on December 22, assured the health worl(ers that adequate security would be provided to them during the campaign.

After the assurance, the health workers agreed to participate in the campaign, which would continue till Thursday.

Earlier, the campaign was carried out at tehsil level but now the entire district would be covered.

Pillion riding has been banned across the district during the campaign. `No onewould be allowed violate the ban. We are monitoring all the routes and outlets.

People should cooperate with police, said a police official.

DPO Javed Iqbal, when contacted, said that police from Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda and Lower Dir districts and Malakand, Kohat and Hazara division were assisting them in provision of security to the vaccinators.

There were about 900 police personnel in the district, he said, adding that some 2,000 policemen were providing security to the anti-polio teams.

Each team is escorted by two or three policemen. In the past, security was provided to vaccinators only in 11 union councils of the district but now security is provided to each team, taking part in the campaign.

DHO Dr Niaz Mohammad told this scribe that 245,000 children would be vaccinated in the district during the drive for which 800 teams were formed.

He said that 700 teams were running door-to-door campaign while 100 fixed teams would vaccinate children at different places like general bus stands, hospitals and basic healthunits.

About the appointment of new EPI district coordinator, Dr Niaz said that they had already sent their demand to health directorate that would fill the post, which was lying vacant after the murder of Dr Yaqoob.

Meanwhile, police filed a number of cases against motorcyclists across the district for violating ban on pillion riding.