CM suspends health officials after fresh polio cases

Polio is a crippling disease and its eradication is a national duty that must be carried out with honesty, CM Sindh

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday expressed strong displeasure over the emergence of two new polio cases in the province and took stern action against senior officials for negligence.

Chairing a meeting on polio eradication at his office, CM Shah suspended the district health officers (DHOs) of Badin and Keamari, issued show-cause notices to the deputy commissioners of Badin and Thatta, and removed the assistant commissioners of Matli and Mirpur Sakro from their posts.

"Polio is a crippling disease and its eradication is a national duty that must be carried out with honesty. Negligence will not be tolerated," the CM warned.

The meeting was attended by Provincial Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah, Health Secretary Rehan Baloch, Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Coordinator Irshad Sodhar and other senior officials.

Officials briefed the meeting that the latest cases were reported from Hyderabad, Badin and Thatta - all falling under the Hyderabad division. Despite achieving over 98 per cent coverage in the latest vaccination drive, the virus is still paralyzing children.