Week-long polio drive launched to immunise eight million kids

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday inaugurated a week-long polio vaccination campaign in 24 districts of the province by administering polio drops to children at the newly established Gulshan-e-Aka Khail in Gadap.

CM Shah urged parents to protect their children from the crippling virus by providing them oral polio vaccines. “Together, as a community, let us forge a path towards a polio-free environment, securing a healthier future for our children.”

This he said while speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the anti-polio campaign at Gadap. The health department launched a sub-national immunisation days campaign that will run from April 29 to May 5. This crucial initiative aims at vaccinating approximately eight million children under the age of five against the poliovirus in 24 districts of the province.

Over 62,000 frontline workers will work throughout the province, ensuring every eligible child receives this life-saving vaccine. This massive effort will be supported by almost 4,000 security personnel.

The CM urged all schools, hospitals and caregivers to welcome vaccinators because “they truly are fighting on the frontline in the last stages of our battle against this debilitating disease”. Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho said on the occasion that the campaign is aimed at stopping the alarming trend of positive environmental samples in Sindh and all over Pakistan, threatening the health of our children.

According to recent reports, 11 positive environmental samples have been isolated from various sites in Sindh. This situation underscores the urgency of this vaccination drive. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the two remaining endemic countries, and interrupting the virus transmission in this epidemiological block is critical to eradicating polio. The polio programmes of both countries are united in a single mission to protect children from lifelong disability and end polio in the region.

Shah said that despite security challenges and persistent virus clusters, efforts are under way to ensure vaccination of every child. “To ensure no child is left unprotected, we encourage parents whose children are missed to contact the Emergency Operations Centre’s [EOC] Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline 1166.”

He said the media plays a pivotal role in disseminating critical information. He urged journalists and community leaders to rally support for the ongoing anti-polio drive, echoing the endorsement of medical experts and religious scholars who advocate for the safety and efficacy of the oral polio vaccine.

The ceremony was also attended by Health Secretary Rehan Baloch, EOC Provincial Coordinator Irshad Sodhar, PPHI CEO Javed Jagirani, Rotary International National Chair Aziz Memon, the WHO’s Dr Asif Zardari, UNICEF’s Dr Shaukat Chandio and others.