5,000 reluctant families convinced to vaccinate children

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has reiterated his government's commitment to eradicate polio.

In a meeting with a delegation of Rotary Foundation headed by its Chairman Mark Maloney, the CM said, "In the wake of cross-border travel from neighbouring countries, Sindh continues to face risk of polio virus. We are confident that our efforts towards polio eradication yield positive results."

The CM thanked the Rotary Foundation for their support in Pakistan against polio and said that besides anti-polio drive, his government has also initiated vaccinations of malnourished children to boost their immunity.

Maloney mentioned that the Rotary Foundation has established 23 immunisation centres across Pakistan and is providing support in high-risk union councils (UCs) in Sindh. He said, the Rotary Foundation is facilitating social mobilisation and fostering confidence-building among families who previously refused vaccination of their children in high-risk areas.

Murad said that a campaign in 85 high-risk UCs of Karachi has been initiated where a fractional injectable polio vaccine (IPV) has been administered.

Murad mentioned that with coordinated efforts, the health dept successfully vaccinated children of over 5,000 previously resistant families, ensuring that no child was left behind in our fight against polio.

The meeting was attended by Rotary Foundation officials including Trustee Aziz Memon, Director Faiz Kidwai, Eric Schmeling, Rizwan Aadhia, and others.

Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Health Secretary Rehan Baloch and other officials were also present in the meeting.