The polio immunisation programme announced by the government for 15 districts is likely to be postponed due to protests of health professionals. The programme was set to take place on February 18 and19. 

As the health professionals across the country are in protest demanding enforcement of the Health Act, the immunisation drive could be postponed, said Basanta Shrestha, immunisation section programme officer at the Child Health Division. 

The government has a target of administering polio drops to 1.69 million children under five. Though Nepal has been declared a polio-free country, the immunisation programme was announced, considering its high risk of re-occurrence. 

The programme will be supported by Unicef and the WHO. The WHO, which is investing Rs 15 million in the programme, has set a target of eradicating polio from the world by 2018. 

The programme will be launched in Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Rautahat, Parsa, Bara, Kapilvastu, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur districts.