Lack of security impacts Polio immunization drive

KARACHI: The 3-day polio immunization campaign in Karachi is being affected by inadequate security provided to the volunteers administering polio drops.

The 3-day drive across 6-districts of Karachi began with a target of immunizing over one million children. However according sources due to the unavailability of security the campaign was unable to achieve more than 32 percent of its target on Tuesday.

A high level meeting was held at the Sindh Secretariat between the administration, the health department and the Sindh Police which was requested to provide 3,000 policemen to be deployed to protect the volunteers.

However, the Sindh Police only provided 1,500 policemen for 2,795 mobile teams.

Geo News teams present on site reported that the Police interest seemed lackluster and volunteer teams were unable to begin their drive due to delayed arrival of the policemen.