Anti-polio drive set to begin in Sindh from Jan 8

KARACHI: The anti-polio drive is scheduled to kick off on January 8th, to be carried out by more than 80,000 polio workers across 30 districts of Sindh, a meeting of the Provincial Task Force on Polio Eradication, presided over by Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Muhammad Fakhre Alam, has announced.

The upcoming campaign, from January 8th to January 14th, 2024, aims to administer polio drops to more than 10.3 million children.

The meeting, attended by Additional Chief Secretary Home Muhammad Iqbal Memon, Commissioner Karachi Muhammad Saleem Rajput, Additional IG Karachi Khadim Hussain Rind, Coordinator Emergency Operations Center Sindh Arshad Ali Sodhar, representatives from WHO, Unicef, and officials from the National Emergency Operations Center, addressed the overall poliovirus status and outlined containment strategies.

Divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners joined the discussion via video link.

Emergency Operation Center Sindh Coordinator Arshad Ali Sodhar provided a comprehensive briefing, emphasizing the report of two polio cases in Karachi. He underscored the urgency for an effective polio campaign in the city. Workforce training and security plans for the upcoming campaign have been finalized, he said.

The chief secretary stressed the importance of a robust launch of the anti-polio campaign in high-risk union councils to achieve optimal results. He directed deputy commissioners to closely monitor the campaign, ensuring daily report submissions.

The health department was directed to administer polio drops to children at all railway stations and bus terminals. Education department officials were also directed to oversee the administration of polio drops in both private and government schools.

The chief secretary commended the cooperation of local government representatives during the polio campaign.