KARACHI: Chief Secretary Sindh, Asif Hyder Shah, chaired a high-level meeting to finalize preparations for a seven-day anti-polio campaign scheduled to begin on December 16, 2024. The campaign aims to vaccinate over 10.6 million children across Sindh as part of ongoing efforts to eradicate polio.
The meeting was attended by prominent officials, including Inspector General of Police Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon, Commissioner Karachi Syed Hasan Naqvi, Secretary Health Rehan Iqbal Baloch, and EOC Coordinator Irshad Ali Sodhar, along with representatives from WHO, UNICEF, and divisional and deputy commissioners participating via video link.
Over 80,000 frontline workers will participate in administering polio drops to children under the age of five, while special polio teams will be deployed at bus terminals to vaccinate children in transit.
The Chief Secretary directed all deputy commissioners to ensure comprehensive coverage and persuade vaccine-hesitant parents to cooperate for the safety of their children.
Chief Secretary Shah stressed that training for polio workers must be executed without negligence. He directed district administrations and union council secretaries to stay active in the field throughout the campaign. Strict action will be taken against any officials found negligent in their duties.
An impassioned appeal was made to parents to support the polio teams, highlighting the vaccine’s importance in protecting children from this life-altering disease. The Chief Secretary reiterated Sindh's commitment to eradicating polio and emphasized that collaborative efforts are critical to achieving this goal.
The upcoming campaign underscores Sindh's resolve to address the public health challenge posed by polio, with the support of global partners like WHO and UNICEF.