03 January 2004	Saturday	10 Ziqa'ad 1424

KARACHI, Jan 2: An estimated number of 8.5 million children, up to five years of age, will be administered Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) in Sindh during the forthcoming National Immunization Days being observed across the country from Jan 20 to 22.

Director General Sindh Health Department, Qadir Baksh Memon, in a press statement here on Friday citing the campaign extremely crucial for the ongoing efforts to eradicate the crippling disease by the end of 2004 has appealed to people and media for their maximum cooperation in the crusade.

This, he said, may turn Sindh again among first of all the four provinces to attain the goal of polio eradication, a distinction the former secured during national efforts to eliminate small-pox followed by eradication of ring-worm disease, considered to be particularly fatal in arid and semi-arid regions.

Reminding that polio eradication is among the top priorities of the provincial government, the DG Health referred to special cells established by the governor and the chief minister at their respective offices to monitor efforts being made to attain the goal without any delay.

According to him, the province is fast on its way to fully protect its children against the disease under the guidance of adviser to chief minister on health, Noman Saigol; Sindh Secretary Health, Ashiq Hussein Memon; and with the active support of the WHO, the UNICEF, the GAVI and various other non- government organizations.

A comparative data with regard to prevalence of polio in the country during the years 2002 and 2003 was also mentioned in the press release showing Punjab to have reported 11 cases in 2002 against 22 in 2003; Balochistan seven cases in 2002 and 15 in 2003; NWFP 33 in 2002 and 32 in 2003 while Sindh to have reported 39 polio cases in 2002 and 27 in 2003.

Dr Qadir particularly referred to the fact that during August and September no new polio case was reported from any part of the province though the period is considered to be the peak season for the spread of wild polio virus.

He stated that one polio case was reported in Sindh during the last five months of the year 2003, and expressed his gratitude to the sincere efforts made by his EPI's team members.

Dr Qadir observed that it was due to the team efforts that Hyderabad district, which reported eight confirmed cases of polio virus in the 2002 - hence enhancing vulnerability of all children based in areas within two kilometres radius in urban sector and five kilometres radius in rural arena, the department managed to ensure zero prevalence throughout the district in the year 2003.

The efforts helped Hyderabad to be declared as the "Model District" in the entire region by international health organizations, he said. In the very statement, the DG Health also referred to various measures adopted by the health department to improve public health facilities against a budgetary allocation of Rs200 million to improve the facilities at 261 health units scattered across the province. Proposals for upgradation of 251 health units had already been dispatched to the provincial health department, he added.

Dr Qadir also mentioned that Sukkur Medical College had been a fresh addition in the score of public medical colleges in the province, while Taluka Hospital Gambat in district Khairpur had been extended the status of the Institute of Medical Sciences. Efforts to upgrade all district headquarters hospitals was also said to be in offing against a budgetary allocation of Rs154.110 million, he added. -APP