Reaching the goal: Anti-polio campaign extended till Jan 7

KARACHI: An oral polio vaccination (OPV) campaign initiated in eight highly sensitive union councils (UCs) in Karachi on December 21 will continue till January 7. This was decided during a meeting chaired by Karachi commissioner Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui on Wednesday to review the campaign underway in UCs Muzaffarabad 1 and Muslimabad 2 in Landhi Town, UCs Gujro, Manghopir and Songal in Gadap Town, UCs Chisti Nagar, Baldia Town and Ittehad Town in Orangi and UC Islamia Colony in Site Town. Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah constituted a committee, headed by Siddiqui, to address the reported refusals by communities and parents to have their children vaccinated. The committee managed to improve the situation in three of the districts where 100 per cent coverage was registered. However, eight of the UCs persisted to be difficult areas, which is why the campaign will be extended.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2016.