CM Murad takes up polio eradication challenge
CM directs team to register cases against refusal to administering poliovirus vaccine
Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah. PHOTO: PPP
KARACHI:
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday designated a team to devise a strategy for polio eradication as part of the provincial government's agenda to curb the rising number of cases being reported.
Along with the directives, CM Murad urged that the matter should be treated as a 'challenge' and that complaints against refusal to administer the anti-polio vaccine should be registered.
Underscoring the urgency on battling the poliovirus, CM Murad said that Pakistan and Afghanistan were the only countries where cases were still being reported.
He added that Pakistan had a total of 24 cases whereas Afghanistan had eight. "Three cases emerged in Sindh in the running year," he said, continuing that only case was reported in Sindh in the previous year. "The number of poliovirus cases is increasing instead of declining," the chief minister said.
He further said that the provincial government's technical team is responsible for this increase.
He communicated the matter while presiding over a meeting of the Provincial Task Force on Polio Eradication at the CM House. The mood was attended by provincial ministers Dr Azra Pechuho and Saeed Ghani.
Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, Inspector-General Police Dr Kaleem Imam and Principal Secretary to CM Sajid Jamal Abro were also present on the occasion.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday designated a team to devise a strategy for polio eradication as part of the provincial government's agenda to curb the rising number of cases being reported.
Along with the directives, CM Murad urged that the matter should be treated as a 'challenge' and that complaints against refusal to administer the anti-polio vaccine should be registered.
Underscoring the urgency on battling the poliovirus, CM Murad said that Pakistan and Afghanistan were the only countries where cases were still being reported.
He added that Pakistan had a total of 24 cases whereas Afghanistan had eight. "Three cases emerged in Sindh in the running year," he said, continuing that only case was reported in Sindh in the previous year. "The number of poliovirus cases is increasing instead of declining," the chief minister said.
He further said that the provincial government's technical team is responsible for this increase.
He communicated the matter while presiding over a meeting of the Provincial Task Force on Polio Eradication at the CM House. The mood was attended by provincial ministers Dr Azra Pechuho and Saeed Ghani.
Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, Inspector-General Police Dr Kaleem Imam and Principal Secretary to CM Sajid Jamal Abro were also present on the occasion.