Anti-polio drive launched in Sindh

Interim health minister says polio virus linked to Afghanistan

KARACHI:

Detection of the polio virus in 13 out of 28 environmental samples collected across various locations in Sindh is disheartening, said Dr Saad Khalid Niaz, the Caretaker Provincial Minister overseeing Health, Social Welfare, Public Health Engineering, and Rural Development, has unveiled a revelation -

This discovery, anywhere in Pakistan, rings alarm bells. Notably, the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) attributes all identified environmental samples to direct links with Afghanistan.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the first polio eradication campaign of 2024 at Urban Health Centre Landhi, Dr Niaz emphasised the urgent need for a coordinated and comprehensive federal-level strategy to tackle this concerning issue.

His sentiments were conveyed during a media briefing where he was joined by EOC Sindh Coordinator Irshad Sudhar, Dr. Ahmed Ali Shaikh, representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), and other dignitaries.

The ongoing polio eradication campaign, spanning from January 8 to 14, aims to administer the polio vaccine to over ten million children under five in all 30 districts of Sindh. A staggering 37,000 vaccination teams will be deployed for this ambitious task, accompanied by a security contingent of 4,225 personnel to ensure the safety of the polio teams.

Dr Niaz disclosed that, as a consequence of the identified environmental samples, two children from UC Gujro of the Gadap Town in the Malir district were found to be infected with the polio virus last year. This revelation underscores the global challenges faced in eradicating polio, with Pakistan and Afghanistan being the only two countries still grappling with this formidable task. Dr Niaz called for collective efforts, urging parents and teachers to engage in the government's coordinated campaign actively. His appeal extended to parents to ensure every child under five receives the crucial two polio vaccine drops. Additionally, he urged school and hospital administrations to extend full cooperation to the dedicated polio workers.

Read Anti-polio drive kicks off

The caretaker health minister highlighted that the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) teams would be strategically stationed at vaccination sites across health centres, hospitals, and other areas during the campaign. These teams not only focus on polio but also provide vaccinations against 12 potentially dangerous diseases. Dr Niaz urged parents and teachers to promptly report any missing polio vaccines to the helpline number 1166, assuring them that the team would swiftly respond by reaching homes, schools, or madrasahs. He underscored the necessity for a collective effort to combat this perilous disease for the sake of a healthy future.

In response to inquiries during the media briefing, Dr Saad Khalid Niaz shed light on two other significant issues. Firstly, he mentioned that the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) Cyber Crime Cell is actively investigating the details of the paper leak inquiry for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) exam. He anticipated a final decision soon, providing a glimpse into the government's commitment to ensuring the integrity of educational processes.

Regarding the new variant of Covid, Dr Niaz informed the public that random checks are being conducted at the airport, and passengers diagnosed with the virus are sent home for quarantine. He clarified that most cases suspected of Covid are influenza-related, providing valuable context to the ongoing efforts in managing the evolving challenges posed by infectious diseases.