KARACHI, Oct 18: Although there are about nine polio-free districts in Sindh, 19 polio cases have been reported so far from other districts, including ten in Khairpur and Ghotki.

In view of the situation, provincial health minister Maj-Gen Ahsan Ahmed (retired) has directed the officials of the health department to concentrate on these areas during the three-day anti-polio campaign, which begins on Oct 29. He issued the directives during a meeting in his office on Friday.

The minister said Ghotki and Khairpur are sensitive districts as five cases of polio had recently been detected in each district. He directed the officials to continue vaccination even after the three-day anti-polio drive in these areas.

On detection of the polio cases, the minister had immediately transferred two District Health Officers of grade-20 and ordered departmental action against them along with another officer of grade-19. A summary in this respect has been sent to the governor, he told the meeting, adding that show-cause notices to 15 doctors of grade-17 and 18, belonging to these two districts had already been issued. Moreover, four other doctors have been put under suspension and departmental action against two other has been ordered.

Special measures would be adopted to ensure across-the-board immunisation of all children under five years of age in Ghotki, Khairpur and other high-risk areas.

Addressing Dr Hussein Baksh Memon, the newly-appointed EDO (health), Ghotki, who also attended the meeting, the minister said Ghotki is a sensitive district with reference to polio and therefore, even after the formal immunisation campaign the routine vaccination programme should be efficiently expedited there.

He urged that no newborn was left un-immunized and strict vigil should be maintained on all children entering the areas.

Ahsan Ahmed said it was a difficult task but has to be accomplished, reminding that he had to take strict disciplinary action and ensure forced transfer of health officials previously posted in the two districts.—PPI/APP