‘Only collective efforts can eliminate polio from Pakistan’

Karachi

Inaugurating a three-day polio drive in the province on Monday, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan stressed the importance of the role being played by female volunteers hired from local communities in ensuring that each and every child, particularly in vulnerable communities, was receiving polio drops and a fighting shot at a prosperous future. 

Lauding their selfless contributions, the governor said the polio workers were also engaged in clearing the misconceptions and reservations regarding the vaccine as they had a better reach and access to their local communities.

The inaugural ceremony was held at the Hilal-e-Ahmer Hospital in Clifton, where Karachi Commissioner Syed Asif Hyder Shah was also present.

Stringent security measures had been taken according to the needs and requirements of various areas of the city and other parts of the province, he said while answering a query.

According to him, the refusal cases in the province have decreased considerably as the parents have realised that polio drops are pivotal to save their children from life-altering disabilities. 

Regarding effectiveness of polio drops and cases of the polio-affected children despite being vaccinated, the governor said the matter was being looked into to find out the reasons behind it.

“It is our collective responsibility to create awareness about the benefits of polio drops in our respective circles,” he said, adding that people from all walks of life were approached for the purpose.

He maintained that eradicating polio from the country was essential to bring about a rapid economic growth because the threat of travel restrictions could only be ended by eliminating the virus from Pakistan.

“The operation in tribal areas has minimised the emergence of polio cases from those areas as more and more children are being given polio drops,” he added.  

The city commissioner informed the governor that 2.2 million children would be administered the drops during the campaign for which more than 6,000 teams had been constituted.