PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Private Schools Regulatory Authority (KPPSRA) on Wednesday sealed seven schools for alleged propaganda against polio vaccination on April 21 after which thousands of children were rushed to hospitals in the province.
But all the children were found healthy in hospitals while doctors have said that it was only the panic created by the negative propaganda due to which parents rushed their children to hospitals.
An investigative report of the District administration, Peshawar has provided that these seven schools have played a major role in the propaganda and recommended the government to take strict action against them. The committee has also asked for strict action those people who have made announcements through speakers of mosques.
According to a press release issued here stated that on the directive of Chief Secretary KP and Managing Director KPPSRA a team of PSRA comprising Deputy Director Sohail Aziz and Assistant Director Zainullah Garwaki in collaboration with District Administration sealed the schools for propagating negative propaganda regarding polio vaccination.
The schools which were sealed included Dar ul Qalam Model School Mashokhail, Iqra School Hassan Garhi, Hall Mark School Hassan Garhi, Peshawar Cambridge School Hassan Garhi, Muslim Standard School Bashir Abad, Oxford Public School and Pine Breeze School Hassan Garhi.
A health facility in the Peshawar’s Masho Khel area was also set on fire after the rumours of children fainting or vomiting after they received a vaccination against the polio virus during an anti-polio drive. As the rumours spread, thousands of panicked parents rushed children to hospitals forcing the health facilities to declare emergencies.
Panic then turned into anger, a mob burned down a basic health unit in Peshawar suburb. After this, the authorities have to cancel the polio drive in the province, when policemen, deployed to provide security to polio teams were gunned down in Bannu and Buner.
