KARACHI, April 20: Sindh Health Minister Naeem Ishtiaq, on Tuesday, said that six million children would be administered drops during the current anti-polio drive that would continue till April 22.

Speaking at a ceremony held to administer drops to children at Sobhraj Maternity Home and Khurshid Bano Medical Centre, Pak Colony, the minister expressed hope that polio would be eradicated from the country by the end of 2004.

The minister said that symposiums, seminars and workshops would be organized to educate the masses especially parents about this disease. Meanwhile, City Nazim Niamatullah Khan administered oral polio vaccines to children in Orangi and Site towns. The campaign is aimed at immunizing all children under five years of age.

Mr Khan said that teams were deputed at bus stops, railway stations, airport, important markets and roads to administer anti-polio drops to children. Besides, he said that teams were also being sent to houses across the city on door-to-door basis so that no case was missed out.

He said, "Polio is a dreadful disease that leaves the inflicted child crippled forever and thus all parents till the ailment is eliminated must ensure that their children are regularly vaccinated against it."

The ceremony among others was attended by EDO (Health) Dr Fazal Illahi Memon, Health Coordinator Abdullah Mutaqi and Orangi Town Health Officer. Later, the nazim administered polio drops to children at Moon Star Grammar School, Site Town. He urged town and union council nazims to ensure their presence in public oriented programmes and activities initiated in their respective jurisdictions. -PPI/APP