Parents' refusal main cause of polio virus: CM

'World moves forward while we still fight old diseases'

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the detection of another polio case in Hyderabad and expressed his despair and sorrow saying, "The world is exploring new avenues of development and progress, but we are still stuck in a loop of eradicating poliovirus from our society."

CM Shah said that the new case of polio in two and a half years' old child shocked him because the government's continuous efforts were not producing tangible results due to non-cooperation of parents and refusal. "Each refusal case also contributes to the spread of poliovirus in society," he said and urged the parents to save their children from this crippling disease by voluntarily administering them polio vaccines. The CM said that with the emergence of a new case, we now have five polio cases in Sindh and 24 in the country. "The failure to eradicate poliovirus has a cost which not only our children are paying but we, as a nation, would have to pay." The CM said the government has been and will be launching door-to-door anti-polio drives, but the parents must provide good health, education and a future for their children.

"It is high time for the parents to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the government and the polio workers to eliminate poliovirus."

The CM directed the health department to conduct an inquiry into the emergence of a new polio case and frame its recommendation so that necessary policy decisions could be taken accordingly.

World News Day

The chief minister in his message on World News Day said that its theme is `Choose Truth' which itself is a loud cry for the people engaged with the news industry.

Shah said the truth is truth whether it is presented in true letter or spirit but even if a single word of falsehood or exaggeration is added, its sanctity is tarnished. He added that in this world of social media everyone has a tool and strength to raise voice, but it is very unfortunate that the voice has started strangulating in the falsehood and rumour mills.

The chief minister urged the print, electronic and social media to uphold the truth by making a loud cry between the truth and falsehood.