As Karachi gears up for its latest polio vaccination drive, Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah has taken a personal stand in the fight against polio, vowing to visit campaign areas to support the polio teams working relentlessly to eradicate the virus. His commitment comes as leading paediatricians across the city urged parents to ensure their children are vaccinated during the upcoming campaign, which runs from August 15-25, 2024.
Presiding over a high-level meeting on Tuesday to review preparations for the campaign, Chief Secretary Shah emphasized the importance of showing tangible support for polio vaccinators. “We must demonstrate our true commitment to polio eradication, and I will personally be in the field to show my support for the polio teams. I expect the same level of commitment from all stakeholders,” he asserted, reflecting the urgency and significance of the initiative.
The Chief Secretary assured that the Sindh government would provide full support to the polio eradication efforts, directing all relevant departments to take proactive measures to ensure the campaign’s success. His commitment to personally overseeing the progress of the campaign on the ground underscores the critical nature of the battle against polio in one of the last regions where the virus remains endemic.
The upcoming campaign targets approximately 1.1 million children across 85 high-risk and super high-risk union councils in Karachi. During the drive, children will receive Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) drops to protect them against the debilitating disease. Additionally, around 1,037,000 children aged four months to five years will be administered fractional inactivated polio vaccine (f-IPV) injections. These injections will be delivered using innovative and painless jet injector technology, representing a significant advancement in vaccination techniques aimed at increasing immunization coverage and reducing discomfort for young children.
During the meeting, Provincial Coordinator for the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), Irshad Ali Sodhar, provided a detailed briefing on the ongoing efforts and the overall progress of the polio campaign. The meeting was also attended by Commissioner Karachi Syed Hasan Naqvi, Additional IG Karachi Javed Alam Odho, all deputy commissioners of the Karachi Division, District Health Officers (DHOs), and other key officials.
The collaboration among various government departments and law enforcement agencies was highlighted as crucial to the campaign’s success. Ensuring the safety of the polio teams, who often work in challenging and sometimes dangerous environments, remains a top priority. Additional IG Karachi Javed Alam Odho emphasized the importance of providing security to vaccinators, particularly in areas identified as high-risk.
While government officials are mobilizing resources and personnel, the success of the campaign also hinges on the cooperation of the public. Leading paediatricians in Karachi have made a strong appeal to parents to vaccinate their children during the drive. They underscored the importance of vaccination not only for the health of individual children but also for the broader goal of eradicating polio from Pakistan.
Chief Secretary Shah’s decision to actively participate in the campaign is seen as a move to inspire confidence and cooperation among the public. By being visibly present in the field, he aims to reinforce the message that polio eradication is a top priority for the Sindh government and that every child’s life is valued in this fight against the virus.
