In full swing: Polio eradication campaign achieves 51% target

KARACHI:

The on-going polio eradication campaign in Sindh has achieved 51 per cent target so far, said health officials.

The campaign aims to cover as many as 8,049,805 children below five years of age across the Sindh province. According to a health official, the campaign in Dadu and Kambar-Shahdadkot has also started with better arrangements.

In Karachi, the drive has been divided in two phases. The campaign started from Monday and will end today (Thursday) in the West, South and Central districts. Health workers will launch the campaign in the remaining areas of Karachi from Friday.

The campaign in Karachi is being led by commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui. Officials of the Extended Programme on Immunisation, with the help of district health officials, are conducting the drive against the crippling disease in the rest of the province.

Owing to the law and order situation and attacks on polio workers, the provincial government has imposed a ban on pillion riding while law enforcers have been made alert in sensitive areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2015.