Ramp up efforts against polio: CM

Following detection of two cases, Murad says sustaining immunisation campaigns a must

KARACHI:

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has expressed his displeasure over the detection of two polio cases in the province and directed the health department to intensify efforts to eradicate the disease and fulfil his government's commitment to polio eradication.

He expressed his concerns during a meeting at the CM House to evaluate the progress of polio eradication initiatives. The meeting was attended by various officials including the Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal, Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, IG Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi, Secretary Local Government Khalid Hyder Shah, Secretary Health Rehan Baloch, CEO PPHI Javed Jagirani, Coordinator EOC Irshad Sodhar, DG Health Dr Waqar, and others.

The Chief Minister was briefed about two polio cases detected in May and June 2024. The first case involved a 30-month-old malnourished boy from the Jatoi tribe in Lakhi area of Shikarpur, who was tested positive for polio on May 11, 2024. Dr. Azra informed him that the child's condition was improving, and the paralysis had subsided. In response to a question, Sodhar mentioned that the child had received three doses of RI OPV and two doses of IPV. Azra highlighted that 73 per cent of children within six union councils of Shikarpur had been administered IPV. The second case involved a three-year-old girl from the Malkani tribe in UC Keamari-3 of Karachi, who was diagnosed with polio on June 3rd, 2024. The affected child had received three doses of RI OPV, two doses of IPV, and over 7 doses of SIAs. Dr. Azra mentioned that in response to this case, 18,000 children were vaccinated with OPV and over 4,000 children received the IPV booster dose. Positive messages from local influencers and doctors were shared on social and mass media, and awareness campaigns were conducted in affected areas.

CM emphasised the need to sustain high-quality immunisation campaigns with little margin of error in the city due to significant risk posed by the amplification and spread of the virus.