KARACHI, June 26: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, on Saturday, held a high-level meeting to consider measures for eradication of polio from the province.

The meeting discussed all matters concerning the success of anti-polio campaign and attainment of set targets with the cooperation of the WHO, the UNICEF and other organizations.

The Coordinator for US National Policy, Lt Gen (Retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch, apprised the chief minister about anti-polio programme details.

The chief minister told the meeting that the government through an agreement with the concerned organization of the UN had set the target of eliminating polio during 2004. He said that all possible steps would be taken for polio eradication and he would personally monitor the programme.

Dr Arbab Rahim said that he would soon hold a meeting with district nazims and apprise them about priorities for attainment of the target and success of the campaign. He said that the tehsil and union council nazims would have to play important role in this regard. In order to activate the district nazims, meetings with them would soon be held, he added.

He said that the education department too would be involved in this campaign and teachers would augment the campaign house to house through their students. They would be asked to conduct surveys in the very respect, he added.

The chief minister directed that the NGOs working in the districts should also be associated with the task beside seeking assistance of medical practitioners and doctors.

Dr Arbab Rahim pointed out that polio was an important issue for the whole of Pakistan and all resources would be employed for its elimination.

He directed the provincial health secretary to chalk out a comprehensive programme for Sindh and use all resources for success of the campaign.

It was decided in the meeting that the governor, chief minister and all provincial ministers would launch the campaign through different ceremonies and administer polio drops to children.

The meeting decided that special steps would be taken in districts where this programme was still incomplete.

Among others, the meeting was attended by WHO Senior Secretary Abdul Rehman Bhutta, Pakistan National Polio Plus Committee Chairman Abdul Hye Khan, WHO Country Representative Dr Najibullah Mujaddadi, Dr Azmoode of WHO, and Health Secretary Ashiq Hussain Memon. -APP