Resolve issues of polio workers in field

As many as 17 polio cases have surfaced in the province this year with three in Hyderabad division

HYDERABAD:

The Chief Secretary Sindh Asif Hyder Shah has directed the Deputy Commissioners to keep themselves abreast of all the problems which the polio workers operating in the field confront during the immunisation campaign.

Shah on Sunday chaired a meeting at the Commissioner Hyderabad's office to review arrangements for the seven-day polio drive which is scheduled to start in the province from December 16, according to a statement issued by the Sindh information department.

The Deputy Commissioners from the rest of the eight districts in Hyderabad division participated through video link while Commissioner Hyderabad Bilal Ahmed Memon and DC Zain-ul-Abedin Memon as well as the officers of health and education departments were present.

As many as 17 polio cases have surfaced in the province so far this year with three of these cases belonging to Hyderabad division including two to Hyderabad district.

"From the UCMOs [union council monitoring officers] to the DCs, all should be aware of the challenges faced by polio workers," the CS emphasised. Shah also underscored the need of ensuring that Tapedars at the UC level are as much aware about the campaign and the related issues as the top officers in a district.

Commissioner Memon appreciated cooperation of Assistant Commissioners and Mukhtiarkars during the drives. "... but the vaccination teams still require training to address complications encountered during the polio campaign."

Pointing towards three positive polio cases in two districts of Hyderabad division this year, he stressed on the urgency to address the persistent threat of the poliovirus.

Lack of precautionary measures

While all emphasis is being laid on the immunisation, precautionary measures to prevent children from being infected by polio appear lacking. One outrageous example of such official indifference is the neverending release of domestic and commercial wastewater in the river and canals in Hyderabad.

Two children, aged 29 months, were tested positive with the virus on August 23 and September 27 in Hyderabad. The former child's family is a resident of Christian Colony in Town Municipal Corporation (TMC) Nerunkot in City taluka and the latter's of UC number 50 in TMC Pareetabad in City taluka.

A fresh water channel, Doman Wah, turned into a huge sewage channel snakes through these areas, carrying sewerage of all the neighbourhoods, before emptying into the Phuleli canal. Owing to this, not only children in Hyderabad are exposed to the virus but those living in other districts, which take water from Phuleli, are equally at threat.