Eradicate the virus: Polio drive to begin in city today

KARACHI:

A polio eradication drive, focusing on the children of eight high-risk union councils (UCs) in the city, will begin today (Monday).

The campaign, being led by city commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, will take place in Muslimabad, Kajro, Songal, Manghopir, Ittehad Town, Muzaffarabad, Chishti Nagar and Islamia Colony. The drive aims to inoculate as many as 240,955 children against the poliovirus.

“The chief minister has given special orders to conduct this drive to vaccinate children against the virus,” explained Siddiqui. “It will end only after polio is eradicated from these areas.”

The campaign will be divided into two phases. The first one, starting today (Monday), will end in a week, while the second phase will commence after two weeks.

Over 1,000 volunteers are expected to take part in the drive. Medical camps will also be established in these UCs. Similar campaigns are planned to be held in Karachi after every 15 days.

So far, 20 polio cases have been reported in the country during the current year so far. Four of these 20 surfaced in Sindh with two in Dadu, and one each in Qambar-Shahdadkot and Sukkur.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2015.