'All of Karachi's districts test positive for poliovirus'

KARACHI: In a concerning development for the country's ongoing efforts to eradicate poliovirus, Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal on Monday said that environmental samples have detected the presence of the poliovirus in all districts of Karachi. 

Speaking on Geo News' programme "Geo Pakistan", Kamal highlighted the urgent need for action, noting that during the previous anti-polio campaign, over 44,000 parents refused to have their children vaccinated — of which 34,000 were from Karachi alone, with the majority from East district.

Kamal said that this time, efforts were being made to convince hesitant parents about the importance of the vaccine. He also clarified that UNICEF was responsible for procuring the polio vaccine for the country.

The health minister's remarks come a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched a seven-day nationwide anti-polio campaign aimed at inoculating millions of children under the age of five.

Providing a regional perspective, Kamal added that anti-polio campaigns are underway across Afghanistan except in Kandahar.

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah today (Monda) officially launched a seven-day anti-polio campaign in Karachi, which will run from April 21 to 27.

He reaffirmed the Sindh government's commitment to eradicating the disease and stressed that protecting children from polio was a collective national responsibility.

Providing details of the vaccination campaign, CM Shah said that more than 10 million children across Sindh, including over 2.7 million in Karachi alone, will be administered polio drops. He further instructed that the availability of the vaccine be ensured at schools, shopping malls, and transit points.

Noting that despite severe heat, frontline workers continue to perform their duties to safeguard the nation's future, the CM advised polio workers to carry water, ORS, and essential supplies, and confirmed that over 25,000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure their safety.

The chief minister urged parents to ensure their children receive the polio drops and to extend full cooperation to vaccination teams. He stressed that it is mandatory for every child under five to be vaccinated. "There is no cure for polio — only the vaccine can prevent disability," he reminded.

He further pointed out that this same vaccine has played a major role in eradicating polio globally and is administered even to those travelling for Hajj and Umrah.

"Repeated doses do not harm, but rather offer stronger protection," he explained, directing officials to ensure that no child is left unvaccinated.