KARACHI: Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shahchaired 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 more than 10.6 million children worldwide Sindh as part of the 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, Health Secretary Rehan Iqbal Baloch and COE Coordinator Irshad Ali Sodhar, along with representatives of WHO, UNICEF and divisional and deputy commissioners. participating through the video link.
More than 80,000 frontline workers will be involved in administering polio vaccines to children under 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 of anti-polio workers should be done without negligence. He ordered district administrations and union council secretaries to remain active on the ground throughout the campaign. Strict action will be taken against any official found negligent in his duties.
A passionate appeal was made to parents to support the polio teams, highlighting the importance of the vaccine in protecting children from this life-altering disease. The Chief Secretary reiterated Sindh’s commitment to eradicating polio and emphasized that collaborative efforts are essential to achieve this goal.
The upcoming campaign underlines Sindh’s determination to address the public health challenge posed by polio, with the support of global partners such as WHO and UNICEF.
