Anti-Polio Campaign - Governer suggests employing local females

MN Report

Karachi: Governor Sindh DrIshrat-ul-Ibad Khan said the other day that for better and sustainable results during polio campaigns, female workers from local communities had been hired to ensure that each and every children, specially in vulnerable communities, gets polio vaccine.

He said this while inaugurating a three-day polio campaign in the province here at Hilal-e-Ahmer Hospital, Clifton. Commissioner Karachi Syed AsifHaider Shah was also present on the occasion. [DrIbad said that the polio workers are also engaged in clearing the misconceptions and reservations regarding the vaccine as they have better reach and access to their local communities.

Replying to a question regarding security of polio workers, he said that it was being ensured according to the needs and requirements of various areas of city and province.
To another question regarding refusals, The Governor Sindh said that the cases of refusals and resistance had decreased considerably as the parents now know that polio drops are pivotal to save their children from lifelong disability and as such  they ensured the same during polio campaigns.

In reply to another query regarding effectiveness of polio vaccine and cases of polio in those children who were administrated polio drops, Dr said that the matter was being looked into to find the reasons regarding the same. “It is our collective responsibility to create awareness about the benefits of polio drops in our respective circles”, he added saying that people belonging to all walks of life were approached during such polio initiatives.

He opined that polio eradication from our country was very essential for rapid economic growth. "It is worth mentioning that the operation in tribal areas has minimized the emergence of polio cases from those area as more and more  children are being given polio drops," he  added.

Commissioner Karachi informed Governor Sindh that 2.2 million children would be administered polio vaccine during the campaign for which more than 6000 teams have been constituted.