Campaign under way to make Sindh polio free

WHO country representative Michel Thieren appreciated the commitment of the provincial government

KARACHI/LARKANA:

Showing satisfaction over the performance and steps taken to eradicate polio from Sindh province, World Health Organization (WHO) officials have asked the provincial government to be very careful, as the virus has not been completely eradicated yet.

WHO country representative Michel Thieren spoke at the provincial task force meeting on Friday and said that the numbers are improving. “Access is better, security is better, coordination is better and it is encouraging that a lot of headway has been made, compared to the previous year.

"However, we need to be very cautious as the virus still circulates," he said. He also appreciated the commitment of the provincial government.

The meeting, held at the Sindh Secretariat, was attended by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, chief secretary Muhammad Siddique Memon, health minister Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar, Sindh IG Ghulam Haider Jamali, Karachi commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, chairperson of the provincial oversight and coordination cell Azra Pechuho, coordinator emergency operations centre (EOC) Dr Usman Chachar, health officials, deputy commissioners and others.

"The attendance in the meeting shows our seriousness," Shah said. He said that Karachi's situation is better than last year. "We'll make Karachi polio-free in the near future," he said.



Dr Chachar told the meeting that the upcoming campaign will start in 80 union councils of Karachi from October 7 till October 10 and 14 other districts of Sindh province will be covered from October 12 to October 15.

IG Jamali said that due to the operation and action against criminals in the city the situation is normal, resulting in a better polio drive in the city. Jamali said that the special security unit will be provided for the polio teams.

"We have made great progress but we need to be careful. We will call it a temporary success till we eradicate polio completely," Dahar said. He said that last year there were 30 cases from Sindh, including 23 from Karachi.

Dahar claimed that there were no polio cases reported from Karachi this year but two cases from Dadu, one from Sukkur and one from Kambar-Shehdadkot. "We accept this challenge and we will make Sindh polio free."

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2015.