Global experts praise Sindh's anti-polio efforts

CM Murad says govt engaged legislators in areas with high refusal rates

KARACHI:

The Polio Oversight Board (POB), the apex body overseeing global efforts to eradicate polio, on Friday reviewed the province's progress in the fight against polio.

The POB meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah at his office where attendees included Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director; Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF Regional Director; Aziz Memon, Trustee of the Rotary Foundation; and senior officials from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief). Also in attendance were key members of the Sindh government, such as Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, and the Coordinator of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Irshad Sodhar.

The chief minister briefed the delegation on Sindh's accelerated efforts to combat the resurgence of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), with 13 new cases reported this year after 34 months without any new cases. "We have mobilised 4,500 additional staff, engaged parliamentarians in areas with high refusal rates, and achieved a 50% reduction in persistent refusals," he said. He also highlighted the successful vaccination of over 10.6 million children through recent campaigns, with the support of 20,000 police personnel ensuring safety for frontline workers.

Sindh's immunisation drives in September and October saw Local Quality Assessment Survey (LQAS) pass rates of 89% and 84%, respectively. The chief minister underscored the need to address vaccine hesitancy through targeted communication strategies and expressed deep gratitude to global partners, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Rotary International, for their continuous support.

POB Chair Dr Chris Elias commended Sindh's efforts, saying, "Sindh has made substantial progress, and we are confident that the teams will succeed in eliminating the virus from the environment." He acknowledged the unique challenges faced by Karachi, including its dense population and high community mobility, which make polio eradication particularly difficult.

Dr Pechuho reiterated the government's resolve to close immunity gaps in high-risk areas like Karachi, emphasizing the importance of both local and global partnerships. "With the steadfast support of the Sindh government and our global partners, we are committed to protecting every child and eliminating polio from the province," she said.