KARACHI, Oct 26: Sindh health minister, Major General(R) Ahsan Ahmad, on Friday chaired a high-level meeting of the Sindh health department to review arrangements for the next phase of the anti-polio campaign to begin next month.

The meeting was also attended by Sindh secretary health, Khalid Latif Chaudhry, director general health, Dr Fateh Mohammad Khan, project director Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI), Dr Shams-un Nisa-Ansari and Dr Azmoudeh of the World Health Organization (WHO), besides representatives of Unicef and other donor agencies, all districts EDOs for health and high officials of the Sindh health department.

During the meeting, the project director EPI briefed the participants on the previous anti-polio campaign.

Dr Azmoudeh , on the occasion, described in detail the present polio situation prevailing world over. He also narrated in detail the level of the disease in Pakistan in general and Karachi in particular

The meeting took stock of the problems encountered in the last anti-polio drive and the health minister directed that all EDOs should keep the law and order situation in view in connection with the anti-polio drive. In this regard he issued special instructions for the EDOs of Sukkur and Jacobabad.

He also urged EDOs to maintain constant liaison with all elected representatives at the district, Taluka and Union Council levels and ensure their participation during the drive.

He directed that Pesh Imams should be specifically requested to tell people about the significance of the polio drops administration in their Jumma sermons.

He also stressed the need for better performance and training of field teams for anti-polio drive.

After the meeting the health minister talked to the IG Police Sindh and informed him that under the devolution system the provision of vehicles for the polio drive would be the responsibility of district police officers.—APP/PPI