HYDERABAD: Polio eradication a big challenge, says DG health
HYDERABAD, Sept 21: The director-general of Sindh health services, Dr Hadi Bux Jatoi, has said that 62 anti-polio rounds have been completed in the country but polio has not been eradicated.
He said that the eradication of polio was a big challenge for the health department.
Speaking at a meeting of health officials here on Thursday, he said that if the people concerned did not combat polio with sincerity of purpose, donor agencies would stop assisting the country.
He said that 19 confirmed polio cases had been reported, out of which, one was in Sukkur and one in Gulshan-i-Iqbal area in Karachi.
Dr Salma Kausar Ali, Sindh’s WHO representative Dr Mohammad Azmodeh and Dr Laila Zubairi also spoke on the occasion.
EDOs (health) and town health officers of Karachi attended the meeting.
EDO: EDO (health) Dr Mehfooz Qureshi has said that a three-day anti-polio campaign will be started in the district from September 25 in which 297,020 children upto five years of age will be administered anti-polio drops.
Speaking at a press conference at the press club on Thursday, he said that along with anti-polio drops, vitamin-A drops would also be administered to children.
He said that 605 mobile teams had been formed and 83 fixed centres and 28 transit points had been established.
He said that adequate staff and supervising staff had been appointed to ensure success of the anti-polio campaign under overall supervision of WHO and UNICEF health officers.
He appealed to parents and citizens to extend cooperation in the national cause.
He said that no confirmed polio case had been reported in the district since October 2004.
District focal person Dr Masood Jafri was also present on the occasion.
WARNING: EDO (revenue) Abdul Sattar Jatoo has called upon traders to ensure that all edible items are sold according to fixed prices during Ramazan.
He said that strict legal action would be taken against hoarders and black marketeers.
Speaking to representatives of wholesalers and retailers organisations on Wednesday, he said that adulteration in consumer goods and sale of substandard edibles would not be tolerated.
The district price control committee at its pre-Ramazan meeting decided that all traders and shopkeepers will display the official price list at conspicuous places in their shops and pushcarts.
Officials concerned of the revenue department and nazims of various union councils of the district attended the meeting.
He said that authorised magistrates would conduct surprise raids to take on the spot action against profiteers and hoarders.
The price control committee comprising revenue officials, elected representatives and traders organisations was also appointed to visit various markets and submit recommendations about the prices of each commodity.