Anti-polio drive begins, aims to reach 6.2m children

Campaign targets 17 districts of Sindh and involves the participation of over 42,000 health workers

KARACHI:

The Sub-National Immunisation Days (SNIDs) campaign was launched on Monday by Sindh Minister for Health and Population, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, as she administered vaccination drops to children in Karachi.

The ongoing campaign targets 6.2 million children in 17 districts of Sindh and involves the participation of over 42,000 health workers.

The vaccination drive, which began on May 15, aims to protect children from the incurable disease of polio.

Dr Pechuho urged parents and caregivers to ensure that eligible children receive the vaccination during the campaign. "Polio is a debilitating disease, but vaccines can safeguard our children. I encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity," she stated. The minister expressed gratitude to the Global Polio Eradication partners, particularly the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), for their continuous support in the fight against polio. She emphasized the government's commitment to eliminating polio from the country and highlighted the importance of collective efforts in protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases.

During the campaign launch, Dr Shahzad Baig, the National Emergency Operations Center Coordinator, commended the role of polio health workers in safeguarding children from the effects of the virus. Despite numerous challenges, these workers have tirelessly worked towards eradicating polio from the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2023.