SUKKUR, Dec 16: Almost all the districts of Sindh have been placed in the high-risk category regarding the spread of polio, and Ghotki, Khairpur, and Sukkur were the worst-hit cities where 10, seven, and six cases had been registered respectively during the last six months.

The additional health secretary, Sindh, Qayyum Nazar Changezi, said this while inaugurating the anti-polio campaign in Sukkur on Monday.

He claimed that the Sindh Health Department planned to eliminate polio within the next six months in its anti-polio campaign.

However, it must be added here that the department has failed to eliminate polio ever since it started its campaign against the disease several years ago.

Mr Qayyum told a press conference that a total of 33 polio cases had been recorded in the department in Sindh, while the number of polio cases was 83.

He claimed that Sindh had taken the lead in controlling the disease in comparison to the other provinces. He also claimed that the disease would be eliminated in Sindh by June 2003.

He said that 545 teams had been formed for the three-day campaign in Sukkur district, which would be held from Dec 17 to 19, and would be manned by 61 special centres and 55 transit teams. Hundreds of lady health workers would be helping in the campaign.

He warned that strict action would be taken against inefficient officials.

Meanwhile, the assistant secretary, Health (Sindh), performed the inaugural ceremony of the polio eradication campaign at the Government Anwer Piracha Hospital, Sukkur.

He urged upon the health staff to gear up their efforts and wage a war against polio, and visit every nook and corner in order to get rid of this dreadful disease.

Shafi Mohammad Shah, a prominent TV artiste and ambassador of the polio campaign for Sindh, said we have to motivate and create awareness particularly among women about the dangerous consequences of polio, so that they can take better care of their children.

He said that cleanliness was a prerequisite for health, hence we have to ensure a neat and clean environment.