Rajbiraj, February 13

The polio vaccination campaign that is to take off in a week’s time in 15 districts across the country has been hit by policy-related disputes over whether health assistants or senior assistant health workers must be put in charge of district public health offices.

The government had fixed February 18 and 19 as the dates when polio vaccines would be administered to children up to five years  in 15 districts, including the Valley districts and Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Mahottari, Banke, and Kailali.

As per data, there are 121,758 kids aged up to 5 years who are eligible for the administration of polio drops in Saptari alone.

Saptari DPHO Information Officer Chhedi Prasad Yadav confirmed that the drive had been stalled. “As of now, a secretary-level decision has halted the campaign until another notice, citing some technical problem,” he said.

Meanwhile, locals have condemned the halt of the polio drive and demanded that the polio campaign run smoothly.