KARACHI: The provincial government launched on Friday a massive anti-polio drive, targeting over 10 million children, including two million in Karachi, under the age of five years in 30 districts across the province.

Part of the national immunisation days, the drive will continue from Feb 28 to March 6.

As many as 70,000 workers with more than 10,000 supervisors would participate in the drive.

At its official launch organised at the CM House, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah shared that there had been a 50 per cent reduction in vaccination refusals and ‘missed children’ in the province, which hadn’t seen any polio case since July 2021.

Campaign begins two days ahead of countrywide launch due to PPP’s long march plan

Sindh launched the drive two days before the official launch of the countrywide immunisation campaign because the CM and Pakistan Peoples Party leadership would be busy in Karachi to Islamabad long march that would begin on Sunday.

“Zero polio cases across the province since July 2021 is good news for the future of the children of Pakistan. What’s also encouraging is to see around 50pc reduction in refusals and missed children,” the chief minister said at the event.

He added that environment samples had also been negative for eight months.

He credited everyone engaged in anti-polio efforts for the improved situation. “I salute my workers who have provided services in difficult conditions and ensured that children are safe from polio. It’s because of their efforts that today there is no polio case in Sindh.”

The chief minister urged the team to continue their struggle so that the province was safe from polio for good. “We must bring the number [of refusals and missed children] down further, especially in Karachi and raise awareness about the benefits of vaccination.”

Sharing how the government brought about a positive change, Mr Shah explained that the government understood the needs of communities residing in high-risk union councils and adopted a multi-pronged strategy by intervening at multiple levels. This included provision of basic amenities such as setting up filtration plants, experimental dispensaries, model EPI and mother-child health centres in these areas.

Referring to the Covid-19 challenges, the chief minister emphasised that dealing with childhood immunisation was as important as tackling the pandemic.

“While we deal with the pandemic, we must also deal with immunisation to prevent childhood diseases. The benefits of vaccination are clear as frequent campaigns have significantly reduced the burden of polio in the country,” he noted, while seeking media’s help in raising awareness about immunization.

In her address, Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho spoke about the efforts of EOC (Emergency Operation Centre) for polio eradication.

The ceremony was attended by parliamentary health secretary Qasim Siraj Soomro, Commissioner Iqbal Memon, health secretary Zulfiqar Shah, director general-health Dr Juman Bahoto and EOC provincial coordinator Fayaz Abbasi, among others.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2022