CM inaugurates week-long anti-polio drive

Urges parents to protect their children from the virus by providing them with oral polio vaccines

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday inaugurated the week-long anti-polio campaign across Sindh by administering polio drops to children at the newly established Gulshan Akakhel in Gadap.

Speaking at the event, the chief minister urged parents to protect their children from the crippling virus by providing them with oral polio vaccines.

"Together, as a community, let us forge a path towards a polio-free environment, securing a healthier future for our children," he stated.

Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Secretary Health Rehan Baloch, Provincial Coordinator Irshad Sodhar, Rotary International National Chair Aziz Memon, WHO delegate Dr Asif Zardari, and others attended the ceremony.

The anti-polio drive aims to vaccinate approximately 8 million children under the age of 5 against the disease across the province.

Reportedly, over 62,000 front-line workers will be deployed throughout the province to ensure that every eligible child receives this life-saving vaccine.

Meanwhile, almost 4,000 security personnel will be present at the vaccine camps.

The CM urged all schools, hospitals, and caregivers to welcome vaccinators and health workers, acknowledging their frontline role in the battle against this debilitating disease.

Addressing the occasion, Sindh Health minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho emphasised that the campaign was crucial to halt the alarming trend of positive environmental samples in Sindh and all over Pakistan, which threatens the health of children.

Recent reports have identified 11 positive environmental samples from various sites in Sindh, highlighting the urgency of this vaccination drive.

"Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the two remaining endemic countries, making it critical to interrupt virus transmission in this epidemiological block to eradicate polio", the minister said.

Despite security challenges and persistent virus clusters, efforts are ongoing to ensure the vaccination of every child.

Acknowledging the pivotal role of the media in disseminating critical information, CM Murad urged journalists and community leaders to rally support for the ongoing anti-polio campaign, echoing the endorsement of medical experts and religious scholars who advocate for the safety and efficacy of the oral polio vaccine.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30^th, 2024.