Vaccination drive: Polio campaign kicks off across Sindh, except parts of Karachi

Two more cases were reported from Gadap Town, bringing the total number of cases in the city to 17.

KARACHI: The three-day polio vaccination campaign, that was supposed to commence across the province on Monday, failed to start in most areas of the provincial capital where polio cases are being reported frequently, The Express Tribune has learnt. Ironically, two more cases were reported from Gadap Town on Monday night.

Polio teams did not start the drive in several areas, including Malir, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Landhi, Korangi, Gadap and Bin Qasim Town for want of security arrangements.

According to health officials, over 7.6 million children will be administrated drops against the crippling disease during the campaign. The figure includes around 500,000 children whose parents have refused polio teams in the past. According to Malir Town Health Officer Dr Masood Solangi, the deputy commissioner of his area did not provide the required security for the 125 teams.

He maintained that he was unable to start the drive in four UCs due to the lack of security arrangements.

Meanwhile, District Central deputy commissioner Dr Syed Saifur Rehman said that adequate security was provided to polio workers across the district. He said that at least 350,000 children will be administered the polio drops in the district during the three-day campaign.

Senior officials, including the health secretary and the provincial head of the Extended Programme on Immunisation were unavailable for comment.

“They don’t plan well so are unable to comment,” said a health official, who was of the belief that the government is not serious about the campaign. “There should not be any compromise regarding this drive,” he urged.

Campaign in Upper Sindh

Meanwhile, the three-day campaign kicked off successfully in all parts of Upper Sindh. During the three days, millions of children, up to the age of five years, will be administered drops of polio vaccine and Vitamin A.

According to Sukkur District Health Officer Dr Mehmood Qureshi, 724 teams of health officials have been constituted to administer polio drops to 269,208 children throughout the district. Larkana District Health Officer Dr Khalil Shaikh told The Express Tribune that 308,555 children will be vaccinated, for which 720 teams have been formed. In Ghotki, 330,000 children will be administered the drops.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2014.