KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah inaugurated on Monday a week-long polio eradication campaign, covering over 10 million children across the province.

Part of the National Immunisation Days, the initiative is one of the largest health mobilisations in the province this year.

A programme was held at the CMS School, a government heritage school located in the old Haji Camp UC, was attended by Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Health Secretary Rehan Baloch, Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) coordinator Shaharyar Memon, senior health department officials and representatives of national and international partner organisations.

According to officials, a total of 10.6m children under the age of five years will be administered oral polio vaccine drops during the drive across 1,345 UCs in 30 districts.

CM Murad says success of campaign depends on public awareness

More than 80,000 frontline workers have been deployed for the campaign, supported by over 21,000 law enforcement personnel, including around 400 lady police constables.

“The government has strengthened its efforts to eliminate polio through robust surveillance systems, high vaccination coverage and strong community engagement,” the chief minister said while speaking at the programme.

Mr Shah acknowledged that while poliovirus continued to be detected in certain high-risk locations, early detection and rapid response remained the cornerstone of the programme’s success.

According to him, Sindh reported 23 polio cases in 2024 and nine cases in 2025, with the latest case detected in August in Badin district.

“This year, cases have remained limited to six districts — Badin, Larkana, Kambar, Thatta, Umerkot and Hyderabad. The ongoing environmental surveillance, particularly sewage sampling in urban centres, is guiding targeted vaccination and response efforts.”

The chief minister emphasised that the provincial government was prioritising micro-planning, pre-campaign preparation and enhanced training and support for frontline workers.

He also highlighted the importance of close coordination between health authorities, district administrations and partner organisations, along with the active engagement of schools, community leaders, parents and religious scholars.

Mr Shah also paid tribute to polio workers, stressing that their dedication was vital to protecting every child from the crippling disease. He urged parents to fully cooperate with vaccination teams and ensure that no child is missed during the campaign.

The chief minister also underscored the important role the media played in disseminating accurate information, countering misinformation and amplifying vaccination messages, noting that collective efforts were essential for achieving a polio-free Sindh and a polio-free Pakistan. “The success of the polio campaign depends on public awareness. I request media owners to dedicate at least five seconds during peak hours to polio awareness messages,” he said, adding that every segment of society must play a positive role in the fight against polio.

He recalled that former prime minister Benazir Bhutto launched Pakistan’s polio eradication campaign in 1990 by administering polio drops to her daughter, Aseefa, setting an example for the nation.

“We must ensure that every child receives polio drops so that this crippling disease is eradicated once and for all,” he stressed.

Talking to journalists, the chief minister stated that it’s a matter of shame that Pakistan and Afghanistan were the only countries where polio still existed. “Polio destroys a child’s future, and we cannot allow that to happen,” he said.

He further stated that in cases of refusal, local UC representatives would be engaged to counsel families, emphasising community-level engagement.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2025