Sindh CM expresses concern over surge in polio cases in province 

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah chaired a Provincial Review Meeting on Polio Eradication at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Karachi, to assess the province's ongoing efforts to eliminate polio.

The meeting began with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by a welcome address from Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Minister for Health and Population Welfare Sindh.

Irshad Ali Sodhar, Provincial Coordinator of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Sindh, presented an overview of the current polio situation and the performance of the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI). He highlighted key achievements, including the f-IPV campaign in August and the Sub-National Immunization Days (SNID) in September, which reached over 9.4 million children across Sindh. However, Sodhar raised concerns about the continued detection of poliovirus in environmental samples, stressing the need for intensified efforts to protect all children from the disease.

Sindh has reported seven polio cases so far this year, with three from Karachi, two from Hyderabad, and one each from Sajawal and Shikarpur. These cases underscore the ongoing challenges and the need for coordinated actions to ensure no child is left unvaccinated.

The Secretary Health and Commissioners from across Sindh shared insights on the difficulties in achieving full immunization coverage, as well as the steps being taken in their respective divisions. Sodhar noted that more than 4,500 support teams engaged with over 25,000 parents during the recent campaign, helping to vaccinate their children. He emphasized that community engagement remains key to overcoming refusals and ensuring comprehensive immunization.

Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah reiterated the provincial government’s unwavering commitment to eradicating polio. He instructed that all children missed during the September campaign be vaccinated before the next campaign begins.

In his concluding remarks, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah praised the Provincial Coordinator for bringing attention to critical issues. He directed elected and local government representatives to form special teams to implement the Chief Secretary’s instructions. Shah called for a special campaign in high-risk union councils (UCs) within the next two weeks to target under-immunized areas and cover all children missed in previous rounds, ensuring full immunization coverage.