Health Reporter
Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday suspended two District Health Officers (DHOs), removed two assistant commissioners, and issued disciplinary notices to deputy commissioners in Badin and Thatta after the detection of two new polio cases in the province.
Chairing a meeting on polio eradication at the CM House, Shah expressed deep displeasure, calling the failures “unacceptable lapses” in an effort that he said must be treated as a national duty.
“Polio is a debilitating disease, and its eradication is our national duty, which everyone must perform diligently. Negligence will not be tolerated,” the CM said.
The meeting was attended by Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Health Secretary Rehan Baloch, EOC Coordinator Irshad Sodhar, and other senior officials.
Nine Cases in Sindh
Officials briefed the chief minister that nine polio cases had been confirmed in Sindh so far this year: three in Badin, two in Thatta, and one each in Hyderabad, Larkano, Kambar, and Umerkot.
The latest detections — one each from Hyderabad, Badin, and Thatta — underscored persistent challenges in the Hyderabad division despite repeated vaccination campaigns.
Dr Azra told the meeting that despite achieving over 98% coverage in recent drives, the virus continued to find and paralyse unprotected children. “Polio is a ruthless opportunist exploiting the smallest gaps,” she said.
Disciplinary Action
In response, the CM ordered the suspension of Dr Anjum Ali Soomro (Badin DHO) and Dr Wali Muhammad Rahimoon (Keamari DHO). He also issued disciplinary notices to the deputy commissioners of Badin and Thatta, and removed the assistant commissioners of Matli and Mirpur Sakro for “poor performance” in polio eradication.
The directives were formally approved by Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah.
High-Risk Gaps and Environmental Threat
Officials warned that around 4,500 children had refused vaccination during September’s campaign. Moreover, 81% of Sindh’s environmental samples continued to test positive for the virus, with all 12 monitoring sites in Karachi persistently contaminated.
Recent cases in Badin and Umerkot were linked to mobile and migrant populations, who are often missed by static health services.
Aggressive New Campaigns Planned
The chief minister ordered the Health Department and Emergency Operations Centre to immediately launch an aggressive new phase of eradication efforts, including:
- Two province-wide campaigns in October and December.
- A Fractional Inactivated Polio Vaccine (fIPV) campaign in Karachi.
- A combined Measles-Polio campaign in November.
- Mop-up operations with OPV and IPV boosters in areas where cases were detected.
He also directed a major operation to track and vaccinate children missed in September, with enhanced use of community leaders, religious scholars, and medical professionals to reduce refusals.
“Final Push” Against Polio
Shah said senior teams would be deployed to high-risk districts for close monitoring.
“The path to a polio-free Sindh is clear. We have the plan, the resources, and the commitment. Now, we are deploying senior teams to ensure our efforts reach every home and every child. This final push requires the support of every community leader and parent,” he said.
Despite a significant reduction in cases compared to 2024, Sindh continues to face stubborn challenges that allow the virus to circulate, the CM admitted. But he stressed that with stricter accountability and community mobilisation, eradication remained within reach.
