Polio cases in Sindh decrease from 30 in 2014 to one in 2017
Three years ago, Karachi was considered hub of polio virus
A health worker administers polio drops to a child in Karachi on World Polio Day. PHOTO: INP
KARACHI:
We are determined to continue the fight against polio until it is completely eradicated in Sindh.
Coordinator of Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for Polio Eradication in Sindh, Fayaz Jatoi, said this on Tuesday on the occasion of World Polio Day. The day is observed on October 24 to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk who led the first team to develop a vaccine against poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio.
Highlighting the successes of the government's efforts in eradicating polio, Jatoi pointed out that 30 new polio cases emerged in Sindh in 2014, out of which 23 were reported in Karachi, which was considered as the hub of polio virus circulation. However, only a single polio case has been reported in Karachi so far this year, which is also the only case reported in Sindh since April, 2016, he said.
Tourists raise fear of polio transmission
According to Jatoi, the improvement has been a result of the efforts of commissioners, deputy commissioners and officials of the health department. However, the highest credit goes to the teams of valiant front-line health workers who have been visiting door-to-door to vaccinate children. They have brought the country to the brink of polio eradication, he said.
"Approximately 60,000 health workers have been administering the oral polio vaccine to 8.6 million children under five years of age in Sindh and we must do this repeatedly to eradicate polio from Pakistan," Jatoi said, adding that parents must be aware of the necessity of administrating polio vaccine to their children every time it is offered, until the children are five years old.
In 2014, 306 new cases of polio were reported all over Pakistan while in 2017, the number is at a historical low of five cases - one each from Karachi, Lodhran, Lakki Marwat Killa Abdullah and Gilgit-Baltistan.
No polio case reported in Fata in one year
According to Jatoi, on the World Polio Day, we must raise awareness about the disease which is easily preventable through vaccination. "Why should a child suffer from a preventable disease?" he questioned, requesting parents to cooperate with the teams that knock at their doors to provide their children with the protection they need against the polio virus.
We are determined to continue the fight against polio until it is completely eradicated in Sindh.
Coordinator of Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for Polio Eradication in Sindh, Fayaz Jatoi, said this on Tuesday on the occasion of World Polio Day. The day is observed on October 24 to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk who led the first team to develop a vaccine against poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio.
Highlighting the successes of the government's efforts in eradicating polio, Jatoi pointed out that 30 new polio cases emerged in Sindh in 2014, out of which 23 were reported in Karachi, which was considered as the hub of polio virus circulation. However, only a single polio case has been reported in Karachi so far this year, which is also the only case reported in Sindh since April, 2016, he said.
Tourists raise fear of polio transmission
According to Jatoi, the improvement has been a result of the efforts of commissioners, deputy commissioners and officials of the health department. However, the highest credit goes to the teams of valiant front-line health workers who have been visiting door-to-door to vaccinate children. They have brought the country to the brink of polio eradication, he said.
"Approximately 60,000 health workers have been administering the oral polio vaccine to 8.6 million children under five years of age in Sindh and we must do this repeatedly to eradicate polio from Pakistan," Jatoi said, adding that parents must be aware of the necessity of administrating polio vaccine to their children every time it is offered, until the children are five years old.
In 2014, 306 new cases of polio were reported all over Pakistan while in 2017, the number is at a historical low of five cases - one each from Karachi, Lodhran, Lakki Marwat Killa Abdullah and Gilgit-Baltistan.
No polio case reported in Fata in one year
According to Jatoi, on the World Polio Day, we must raise awareness about the disease which is easily preventable through vaccination. "Why should a child suffer from a preventable disease?" he questioned, requesting parents to cooperate with the teams that knock at their doors to provide their children with the protection they need against the polio virus.