Sindh Chief Minister Launches Final Polio Eradication Campaign of 2024

10.6 million children under five Target, 80,000

frontline workers on door-to-door immunizations

mission, 15,000 security personnel deployed

Staff reporter

Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah inaugurated a province-wide polio eradication campaign, running from December 16 to 22, 2024, by immunizing children at NJV School. Emphasizing the importance of the effort, he encouraged vaccination teams to approach their work with the same diligence as classroom activities.

The campaign, aiming to vaccinate 10.6 million children under five, involves over 80,000 frontline workers conducting door-to-door immunizations. Mr. Shah stated that 15,000 security personnel have been deployed across Sindh to ensure a safe environment for the initiative.

Highlighting the urgency, he noted that 63 polio cases have been reported in Pakistan this year, including 17 from Sindh. “The situation is critical, with most environmental samples testing positive for the virus, signaling ongoing transmission,” he warned. He added that Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where the poliovirus is endemic, making this campaign crucial to halting the spread and protecting children from lifelong disabilities.

Key Figures Support the Campaign

The event was attended by Secretary of Health Rehan Baloch, Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi, Additional IG Karachi Javed Alam Odho, and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Coordinator Irshad Sodhar. They administered polio drops to children, demonstrating their commitment to eradicating the disease.

Irshad Sodhar emphasized the importance of follow-up efforts, urging parents to use the EOC’s Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline (1166) or WhatsApp (0346-7776546) if their children miss vaccination during the campaign.

The Health Department has called on media, community leaders, and religious scholars to raise awareness about the campaign, emphasizing that a polio-free future requires collective effort.

CM’s Remarks to Media

During a media briefing, Chief Minister Shah recalled the historic 1994 polio campaign initiated by Prime Minister Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, who administered drops to her daughter, Assefa Bhutto.

He addressed other issues, including PTI’s lack of accountability over the past eight months, the overdue National Finance Commission (NFC) award, and rumors about changes in the Sindh Governor. On the NFC, he expressed frustration that the constitutionally mandated five-year revision had not been implemented since 2010, stating, “Future awards must ensure increased provincial shares.”

Regarding law enforcement, Mr. Shah highlighted the government’s efforts to reclaim and develop areas previously controlled by dacoits. He announced plans to open schools and initiate road construction in these regions. “Kidnappings for ransom in Shikarpur, Ghotki, and Kashmore have significantly declined, and we are committed to eradicating dacoit activities,” he stated.

He reiterated the Sindh government’s firm stance against diverting canals from the River Indus, ensuring no further progress on these proposals by the federal government.