KARACHI, September 4: Some 1.346 million children of up to the age of 5 years would be administered polio drops in the Thatta, Hyderabad and Badin districts during the ongoing national anti- polio campaign.

This was stated by Sindh health minister Maj-Gen Ahsan Ahmed, while talking to journalists after his return here after a visit to the three districts to review the anti-polio campaign.

The minister informed that in the Hyderabad district 712, 401 children would be administered drops by 1580 teams, 363,486 children in Badin by 996 teams and 270,252 children in Thatta by 667 teams. Ahsan Ahmed said he had issued clear instructions to EDOs to always seek people’s cooperation before initiating campaigns.

During his visit, the minister directed that team members should ensure the achievement of targets given by supervisors for their respective areas, and the areas supervisors too should have complete knowledge of the boundaries of their areas and keep the maps with them during visits.

He further directed that while contacting people they should demonstrate good behaviour, introduce themselves and explain the objective of the visit as well as the significance of administering of polio drops to children. The minister said he would visit various areas of Karachi on September 5 to review the polio drive.

Pop singer: Pakistan — in its last phase of polio eradication — ought to ensure across the board immunization of children under five against the disease, and dispel any misconceptions about oral polio vaccines among the people.

This was stated by pop singer Jawad Ahmed, who was recently designated as the ambassador for polio eradication in Pakistan, at a press briefing on Wednesday following his day-long involvement in the door to door polio immunization campaign carried out in different parts of the city.

He was appreciative of the fact that the provincial and federal governments — in collaboration with UNICEF, the WHO, Rotary International and the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention — have been able to bring down the number of 1,806 polio case in 1994 to just 35 recorded till Aug 31 of this year.

But aware of the fact that the existence of a single case, or missing out on immunizing any child under five continues to pose the threat of the crippling disease, Jawad urged the people to demand the vaccine without any inhibition or reservation.

He regretted that during his visit to Gulberg — inhabited by considerably well off people — a few families refused to open their doors to the immunization teams.

“Some even expressed their ignorance about the significance of oral polio vaccine, or that any campaign was going on,” he observed, mentioning that in marked contrast, residents of localities such as Mujahid Colony gave an overwhelming response.—APP