KARACHI, Jan 12: Like other provinces, Sindh is also all set to observe special national immunisation days on Jan 22 and Jan 24 to administer anti-polio vaccines to about 6.5 million children of less than five years through 20,000 vaccinators across the province.

Health officials have expressed their determination to completely wipe out the menace of polio from the province and to further improve the surveillance of activities during both the routine and special immunisation days against polio in the current year.

The officials were discussing their problems, shortcomings and resources at a review meeting of Expanded Programme on Immunisation, Sindh, at a hotel, with Sindh Health Minister Fauzia A. Lari as chief guest on Saturday.

In 2007, as many as 24 polio cases were recorded throughout the country, out of which 11 were reported from Sindh, including five cases which were reported in Kambar, two cases each in Karachi and Jacobabad, and one case each in Khairpur and Thatta.

Some of the executive district officers (health) apprised the relevant authorities about the damages caused to a couple of EPI depots and cold storages, burning of vehicles, in the aftermath of PPP leader Benazir Bhutto’s assassination on Dec 27, but maintained that they would be able to run the campaign as usual in all parts of Sindh.

One of the senior health officials stressed the need to improve the polio vaccination reporting system and disease development so that problem-oriented policies could be evolved and implemented for making the province a polio-free place in 2008.

Some of the district health officers noted that private sector hospitals and practitioners did not cooperate wholeheartedly with the immunisation staff of the government as far as acquisition of data pertaining to routine immunisation and polio drop administration was concerned.

The representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other donor agencies told the participants of the meeting that shortage of logistic and other facilities in the wake of law and order situation after Dec 27 was already being addressed by them and donors would ensure smooth mobility of vaccinators and other concerned in all parts of the province.

About the increase in polio virus cases at Kambar in 2007, it was said that the situation turned odd as about 135,000 people, including under-five children, migrated down to the district from Balochistan after floods, but a fully-fledged administration of polio to children did not remain possible as they were scattered and difficult to trace.

Dr Yahya Mustafa, the medical officer of the WHO in Sindh, said that there was a need to observe 2008 as the year of surveillance and strengthening the routine immunisation system.

Dr Abdul Majid, the additional secretary (public health), said that officers and polio workers were required to enhance their skills and knowledge and must ensure to reach the inaccessible population of children under five as well.