Polio campaign targets 10m children

CM Shah launches a seven-day province-wide campaign

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday launched a province-wide anti-polio campaign, reaffirming the government's commitment to eradicating the disease through sustained immunisation, public awareness, and coordinated action.

The inauguration took place at a government boys secondary school in DHA, where the chief minister personally administered polio drops to children and visited classrooms to vaccinate those under the age of five.

The seven-day campaign, running from April 13 to 19, aims to vaccinate more than 10.6 million children across Sindh. In addition, approximately 9.4 million children will receive Vitamin A supplements to strengthen their immunity.

Highlighting the scale of the effort, Shah said more than 83,000 trained frontline workers would conduct door-to-door vaccinations to ensure no child is missed. To safeguard the teams, over 24,000 security personnel - including more than 2,400 female officers - have been deployed.

He urged parents to cooperate fully with vaccination teams, emphasising that Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where polio persists, making continued national efforts critical.

Providing an update on the situation, the chief minister noted that Pakistan reported 74 polio cases in 2024 and 31 last year, while Sindh recorded nine cases in 2025. Encouragingly, he said 2026 has seen significant improvement, with environmental positivity rates dropping to 24 per cent and only one case reported so far, from Sujawal district. The affected child is under close monitoring and has not suffered any disability.

Shah stressed that repeated vaccination campaigns are essential to building immunity among children and permanently eliminating the virus. He also reiterated that the polio vaccine is safe, effective, and certified by the World Health Organization.

Calling for collective action, he appealed to parents, educational institutions, media, religious scholars, and civil society to support the campaign. He particularly urged the media to counter misinformation and promote awareness, while community leaders were encouraged to advocate for vaccination.

The chief minister also paid tribute to frontline polio workers and security personnel for their dedication in reaching remote and challenging areas. He acknowledged the contributions of Asifa Bhutto Zardari and recalled how Benazir Bhutto set an example by publicly vaccinating her daughter in the past.

"Eradicating polio is vital for the country's future," Shah said, adding that ensuring every child is vaccinated is a shared national responsibility.

Media interaction

Speaking to the media after the ceremony, Shah linked effective governance and diplomacy to public welfare, expressing confidence that President Asif Ali Zardari would continue to steer the country toward stability and progress.

He said the country's leadership - including the president, prime minister, and military - was working in coordination for national development. Referring to recent diplomatic engagements, he noted that both Iran and the United States had expressed confidence in Pakistan's leadership, calling it a sign of successful diplomacy.

Shah also praised Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for his active role in diplomacy and public engagement, despite holding no official government position. He added that Bilawal is closely overseeing development initiatives, including projects in Lyari.

On civil rights, Shah stressed that blocking a citizen's national identity card is a violation of fundamental rights and should not be permitted.