Karachi, In an effort to eradicate polio, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah kicked off a week-long anti-polio drive aimed at vaccinating eight million children under five across 24 districts. The campaign, which began with the Chief Minister administering polio drops at Gadap’s Gulshan-e-Aka Khail, is part of a broader initiative to combat the resurgence of polio virus in the region.
According to Chief Minister Sindh, the campaign is a critical part of the Sub-National Immunization Days (NIDs) from April 29th to May 5th, 2024. This extensive vaccination effort is staffed by over 62,000 frontline workers and supported by nearly 4,000 security personnel. The campaign is designed to reach children in areas where recent environmental samples have tested positive for the polio virus, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive immunization.
The launch event was attended by various health officials and international representatives, including Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Secretary Health Rehan Baloch, and representatives from WHO and UNICEF. They discussed the importance of the vaccination drive in interrupting virus transmission, particularly in Pakistan and Afghanistan—the last two polio-endemic countries.
Chief Minister Shah emphasized the ongoing security challenges and the persistence of virus clusters, calling for community support to ensure no child is missed. He encouraged parents to seek assistance from the Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline 1166 if their children are not vaccinated.
The campaign also aims to address the public’s role in polio eradication, with Shah urging the media and community leaders to promote the vaccination drive and dispel myths about the vaccine’s safety and efficacy.