Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said that the province celebrated World Polio Day on Wednesday and that the government is working towards making Sindh ‘polio free’.
“Four polio cases were registered in four districts of Sindh compared to the 22 cases found in eight districts in 2011,” said Shah. He added that this year Karachi has been polio free till now as compared to nine cases which were reported in six towns last year.
Shah said that World Polio Day provided an opportunity for the global community to renew the promise of a polio free world. “With 99% of the work done, it is more important than ever that we remain committed to the disease’s eradication.” He added that Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria are the only three countries in the world where polio is endemic, but polio is still a global threat to public health as the virus can re-enter and quickly spread in countries where it has been eradicated.
He suggested that in order to prevent children from contracting this paralysing disease, all children up to 5 years of age must be vaccinated with two drops of polio vaccine every time it’s offered (in every campaign) and during the three-day polio campaigns. If a child is missed due to any reason in any house or in the neighbourhood, it must be reported by calling 0800-88 588.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2012.
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