KARACHI, April 16: The Sindh Chief Minister, Sardar Ali Mohammad Khan Mahar, has said that the provincial government is according priority to health problems, and said that the province would, Inshallah, be made polio-free by 2004.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of polio campaign at the Government Services Hospital, Karachi, he said that previous policies had been reviewed and greatly improved.
The CM appreciated the co-operation of EPI, NGOs, media and the masses and said that each and every citizen should ensure that all children under five year must be administered polio and Vitamin-A drops so that they may be saved from permanent disability.
Sindh health secretary Ashiq Hussain Memon apprised the minister that during the three-day immunization campaign against polio, 7,916,946 children will be vaccinated in the province and 18,662 teams have been formed.
Later, Mr Mahar administered polio and Vitamin-A drops to children.
WHO OFFICIAL: WHO Representative in Pakistan, Khalf Bile Mohammad, called on the Sindh Chief Secretary, K.B. Rind, here on Wednesday and reviewed the existing status of polio in the province.
The WHO representative referred to the administrative problems being faced with regard to health care projects, particularly polio, in certain districts of the province. He also recommended certain measures to address the scenario.
Informing the Chief Secretary about the WHO support to strengthen the EPI in the province and coordinated efforts being made to attain the goal of polio eradication, as early as possible, Dr. Khalf Bille suggested formation of committees, headed by the governor, the chief minister, ministers and the chief secretary to make the exercise all the more effective and efficient.
He also informed the Chief Secretary, K.B. Rind, that a recently conducted WHO survey identified polio symptoms to be still existent in Pakistan, India and Nigeria. However, Pakistan was found to have comparatively much little incidence rate.—APP
