Seven-day polio drive to begin in Sindh from Dec 16

A high-level meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah discussed preparations for the upcoming seven-day anti-polio campaign, which will commence on December 16 across the province. The meeting finalised plans to vaccinate 10.6 million children during the campaign, Express News reported.

During the campaign, more than 80,000 frontline workers will be involved in administering the polio drops. Teams will be deployed at all major bus terminals to ensure that traveling children are vaccinated.

Shah highlighted the critical need for vaccinating every child to eliminate polio and urged deputy commissioners to convince parents to participate in the campaign. He also called on the public to cooperate with polio teams and ensure children are protected from the disease.

He further warned against any lapses in the training of polio workers and assured that district administrations and local government staff would be present in the field throughout the campaign.

Sindh IG Ghulam Nabi Memon assured the meeting that over 24,000 police officers would be assigned to safeguard polio workers during the campaign. He stressed that security would be provided to ensure the teams can perform their duties without fear.

Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi highlighted challenges posed by non-compliant parents and migrant populations but assured that measures were being taken to address these issues.

EOC Coordinator Irshad Ali Sudher reported that the training of polio workers had been completed and mapping of Karachi's bus terminals had been carried out with the district administration's help.

He noted that 18 polio teams would be deployed at the Sohrab Goth bus terminal to vaccinate all children passing through.

Shah reiterated the government’s commitment to the success of the campaign, calling it a vital step for the health and future of Sindh's children.