KARACHI, July 11: A meeting of the provincial communication committee for EPI acceleration and polio eradication in Sindh was held at the EPI provincial headquarter here this afternoon. Project director EPI Sindh Dr Shams-un-Nisa Ansari, EPI expert review committee Dr Iqbal Memon, EDO health Dr Ali Nawaz Shaikh, representatives of UNICEF & WHO, additional secretary industries Khizar Hayat and Nisar Memon of the Radio Pakistan FM-101 were among those who attended the meeting.

The participants put forward their suggestions to eradicate polio and achieve the targets of the campaign. They stressed the need for community participation at the grassroots level through proper awareness. It was agreed that any campaign or programme would not succeed till the community involvement at every level was ensured.

It may be mentioned here that from 23rd to 25th of this month the additional immunization campaign will be launched in high- risk areas. In the forthcoming campaign, special attention will be given to children in Karachi Abadis.

Dr. Shams-un-Nisa informed that each day on an average 73 children were dying from measles. In 1980, 2980 polio cases had been reported in Pakistan and the estimated cases were 10 times more. All these disease, she said, were vaccine preventable diseases and fortunately those vaccines were available.

“Routine coverage in Pakistan remains low, even 3 or 4 doses of polio vaccine. To eradicate polio the virus must be prevented for circulating in the community & environment,” she said.

The project director sought cooperation and expertise of the provincial information department, media and ulema to achieve the desired results of the campaign.—PPI