KARACHI: A polio immunisation campaign targeting over 1.8 million children in nine selected districts of Sindh was launched on Monday.

The seven-day drive will cover 120 union committees/councils in seven districts of Karachi division — Central, East, South, West, Keamari, Korangi, Malir — and Hyderabad and Jamshoro.

“Over 10,000 workers, aided by 2,200 policemen, are participating in the campaign,” a health department official shared.

Officials said the campaign was planned after the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad confirmed the detection of the Type-1 wild poliovirus in a sewage sample collected from Sohrab Goth, Karachi East, in May this year.

Over 2,200 police providing security to 10,000 vaccinators

It was the first positive environmental sample in 10 months in Karachi division. Previously, a positive sample was collected from Karachi division in August 2022 from Landhi, they added.

“Prior to that, the same site in Landhi reported a positive environmental sample in 2020, whereas the last polio case from Karachi East was reported in 2018,” said the official.

Earlier in the day, the immunisation campaign was inaugurated by Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho and World Health Organisation (WHO) representative to Pakistan Dr Palitha Mahipala by administering polio drops to children.

Both officials held a meeting during which they discussed measures to improve the state of healthcare in Sindh.

The issues raised during the meeting included the prevalence of cholera, drug-resistant typhoid, tuberculosis (TB), and HIV, and the steps needed on the prevention side included public awareness.

Meanwhile, speaking at a press conference, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon emphasised the importance of administering polio drops to safeguard children against disease.

He appealed to the media to wholeheartedly support the government in its efforts by informing the public about the effectiveness of polio vaccination.

He requested the media to accelerate talk shows and awareness campaigns regarding polio, urging them to increase programme coverage on this topic.

“The aim is to encourage maximum public engagement and participation in the polio campaign,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2023