Participants 

1. Trustee/ National Chair PNPPC Aziz Memon
2. DGE Adnan S Rohaila
3. CDG Rauf Rohaila
4. PDG Shahzad Ahmed
5. AG Nosherwan Khalil
6. Mr. Asif Ali ( Additional Deputy Commissioner-Nowshera)
7. Moullana Irfan UlHaq ( Darulullom Haqania-Nowshera)
8. Dr. Ali Asgher ( District Health Officer- Nowshera)
9. Dr. IsrarUlHaq( National Coordinator RRU)
10. Dr. Ikram Shah ( National EPI Coordinator)
11. Dr. Altaf Bosan( Technical Focal Person-NEOC)
12. Dr. Sarafaraz Afridi(Provincial Coordinator )
13. Mr. Shahid Khatak
14. Mufti Shoukat Ullah ( District Khateeb)
15. Dr. SaifUllah (Area Coordinator WHO)
16. Dr. Hashim (EPI Coordinator-Nowshera)
17. Mr. Shahab ( ComNET Provincial officer)
18. Asher Ali (Project Manager PNPPC)
19. Rtn Tayyaba Gul( Member Polio Plus Committee Pakistan/ COO YCP)

Youth Catalyst Pakistan in collaboration with Pakistan National Polio plus committee ( PNPPC) established 3 Rotary resource centers in super high risk UCs i.e. Bara Banda , AzakhelBala and DherKattiKhel. YCP is also actively participating in all SIAs activities under the guidance of the relevant government authorities. Furthermore Rotary permanent immunization centers have been declared as fix centers by District Health Office Nowshera to supplement Polio eradication and to strengthen essential immunization in targeted Union councils of District Nowshera.

Youth Catalyst Pakistan in collaboration with Pakistan National Polio Plus Committee (PNPPC) organized a Seminar in District Nowshera Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Role of Ulema in eradication of polio and COVID-19 Pandemic. The workshop was attended by 65 religious leaders of Nowshera district, Government Officials and representatives of NEO and WHO.

Nowshera Rotary Resource center gets this pride as the seminar was attended by 3 Past District Governors namely PDG/Trustee, National Chair polio plus Committee Aziz Memon, PDG Shehzad Ahmed and DGE Adnan Sabour Rohaila.

Proceedings of the workshop:

The workshop begins with the recitation of Quranic verses by Molana Ayub. DGE Adnan Rohaila welcomed all respectable Ullemas and distinguished guests for attending this seminar. He said that Ulema playa very significant role in our society and always get respect and care from communities. He added that ulema role is vital for eradication of polio to sensitize their respective communities on the importance of polio drops. 

Moullana Irfan UlHaq, Darulullom Haqania-Nowshera was the chief guest. He spoke on the responsibility of parents and other civil society segments to give more awareness on polio and COVID 19. He said in the light of Islam parents are responsible for the health of their children and we have to be careful to get our children vaccinated and do not give any attention on negative propagandas.

Dr. Ali Asgher, District Health Officer- Nowshera gave a brief presentation on polio cases in the district. He highlighted the hotspots in the district and appreciated the efforts of Rotary through YCP in the district to cover missed children.

Dr. Sarfaraz Afridi Provincial Coordinator WHO gave a polio situation in the province and highlighted high risk UCs. He said with the efforts of District Governments and polio partners now the districts showing good coverage and negative environmental samples. He emphasized on more collaborative efforts to complete the task.

Mufti Shoukat Ullah, District Khateeb spoke on Islamic Fatwas and emphasized to clear the mist among refusals through religious schools and involvement of Khateeb at local levels. He said since we are at the verge of eradicating polio, we have to put more efforts especially against those who are creating mis conception.

Dr. Ali Asgher DHO Nowshera addressed the Hall about the importance of essential immunization. He said that we need to take good care of our children and are the future of our country. We must protect them all from all awful diseases. He appreciated YCP and PNPPC for organizing this seminar.

Asif Ali Additional Deputy Commissioner- Nowsherasaid that “We as a citizens of Pakistan need to play our role for polio eradication. He requested Ullema’s to include these topics in their speeches/Friday sermons to highlight importance of polio and COVID-19 vaccination”.

Trustee/ National Chair  Aziz Memonsaid that the current year is going well as only one case has been reported so far. He added that Ulema are instrumental and their support is needed to conquer the battle against polio. He spoke that Ulemas must come forward for this national cause to persuade their communities to vaccinate their children. He applauds PAG TayyabaGul for her hard work and commitment to eradicate polio from Pakistan.

Q&A Session

A  Question Answer session was conducted in the last where our experts answered the question of Participants regarding polio vaccination. All Ulema agreed that this seminar removed so many ambiguities and misconceptions regarding polio and we will further convey this message to our communities and students.   Lunch served to all Participants with Pray for better, Polio free Pakistan.

Vote of thanks 

Past Assistant Governor RtnTayyaba Gul thanked all the participants for attending this important seminar. She appreciated the role of Ulema and their hard work in polio eradication. Mosque announcements, sessions in Madrassas and talk on polio/COVID-19 in Juma Khutba become possible because of our UC level religious scholars. She thanked the Youth Catalyst Pakistan (YCP) team for organizing this seminar.

Reported By: Rtn Tayyaba Gul