KARACHI, April 14: Sindh chief minister Sardar Ali Mohammad Khan Mahar will formally open the 37th National Immunization Days (April 15 to April 17) by administering polio drops to child patients at the National Institute of Child Health here on Tuesday.
Eight million children, up to the age of five, have been estimated to be administered anti-polio drops across the province and some 18,603 teams have been constituted to meet the task along with around 1,500 fixed vaccination centres.
Extra efforts are being made to specially cater to the needs of children under six months, during the three-day exercise.
Although the government has declared April 17 a public holiday in the province, yet the campaign would continue for the third consecutive day in accordance to the original schedule.
A total of 6,000 teams have been formed for Karachi only, where 2.7 million children are required to be vaccinated against the crippling disease.
At present Pakistan is registered to contribute five per cent of the global burden of polio and is in the process to attain the zero level prevalence, which has to be maintained for three consecutive years.
Official sources said there had been six cases of polio in the province. One case each was detected in Karachi, Larkana, Jacobabad and Naushero Feroze and two cases in district Khairpur.
The parents and NGOs have been advised to get all the children vaccinated from the mobile health units and the nearest polio centres.
The health department has targeted 2004 as the year to completely eliminate polio from the province.
At a briefing, Sindh minister for population Welfare, Dr. Saeeda Malik, was informed that during the three-day anti-polio drive, some 270,6679 children in all districts of Karachi under the age of five, would be administered polio drops and children from six months to five years will be given Vitamin-A drops.
The Project-Director of the EPI, Dr. Shamsun Nisa Ansari, informed the minister that in the 18 towns of Karachi, some 5,375 teams have been constituted, out of which 4,896 are mobile, 143 fixed centres and 336 are temporary points.
Similarly to ensure an effective supervision of the whole drive, 526 area in-charges and 122 zonal supervisors have been inducted.
The break-up is as follows:
Lyari Town, 483 teams for 262,577 children; Saddar Town 555 teams for 306,142 children; Jamshed Town, 391 teams for 201,394 children; Korangi Town, 232 teams for 122,343 children; Shah Faisal Town, 151 teams for 75,192 children; Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town, 309 teams for 146,644 teams; Malir Town, 183 teams for 194,789 children; Landhi Town, 354 teams for 100,127 children; Gulberg Town, 287 teams for 140,219 children; North Karachi Town 275 teams for 77,819 children; Liaquatabad Town, 375 teams for 157,884 children; North Nazimabad Town, 223 teams for 139,385 children; Gadap Town 422 teams for 202,737 children; Bin Qasim Town, 214 teams for 119,595 children; Baldia Town 222 teams for 102,980 children; Orangi town, 240 teams for 124,925 children; Keamari Town 243 teams for 125,061 children; and SITE Town 216 teams for 106,866 children.—APP/PPI
