In a change of strategy, the commissioner office has been assigned the task to implement and supervise polio vaccination campaign in the provincial capital.
Representatives of the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund, World Health Organisation and Rotary International discussed a strategic action plan with commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, chief minister's focal person on polio Dr Ahmed Ali Shaikh, deputy commissioners of all six districts, officials of the health department and others at Siddiqui's office on Thursday.
"This is a shift in strategy," Siddiqui told The Express Tribune. "Also, this campaign is for a limited time." He added that all those who attended the meeting were keen to promote zero tolerance to polio.
A three-day polio drive is being launched from October 20, targeting the most sensitive union councils of the city. Other areas will also be targeted in the campaign as the officials believe that the reluctant families might move to other areas, carrying the crippling disease virus with them to different parts of the city.
Discussing the strategic action plan, it was decided that all deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners will be responsible for running the polio campaigns in their respective areas. The officials have requested the representatives of the district management group to play an active role as they can make surely a difference.
The commissioner office will also monitor the campaigns across the city. The officials were assured by the commissioner that all 32 sub-divisions will soon be polio-free.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 17th, 2014.
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