Sindh Chief Minister Emphasizes Urgent Need for Coordinated Actions to Eradicate Polio

Strategic Insights -

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presided over a provincial meeting to review polio eradication efforts, expressing concern over the detection of seven cases. The meeting was held at the CM House on Friday and attended by provincial ministers, the Chief Secretary, Commissioner Karachi, and other officials. The divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners attended the meeting through video link, receiving updates on the current polio situation and the performance of the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) program.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Chief Minister emphasized the urgent need for coordinated actions to reach every child and eliminate the threat of polio, with seven polio cases reported in the province this year, including three from Karachi, two from Hyderabad, and one each from Sujawal and Shikarpur.
  • The Minister of Health, Dr. Azra Pechuho, highlighted the progress made during recent campaigns, including the fractional Inactivated Polio Vaccine (f-IPV) campaign in August and the Sub-National Immunization Days (SNID) campaign in September, which successfully vaccinated over 9.4 million children across the province.
  • The Chief Secretary reaffirmed the provincial government's full support for polio eradication efforts, stressing that the commitment to wiping out the disease is unshakeable, and Chief Minister Murad Shah praised the dedication of frontline workers and district administrations for their success in the f-IPV and SNID campaigns.
  • The Chief Minister directed all departments to collaborate more effectively and overcome operational gaps to ensure that no child is missed during the upcoming National Immunization Days (NID) campaign later this month.
  • The provincial government is committed to a polio-free Pakistan, and the Chief Minister emphasized the importance of continued vigilance and collective action to protect every child from this preventable disease.

Statistics:

  • Seven polio cases have been reported in Sindh this year, including three from Karachi, two from Hyderabad, and one each from Sujawal and Shikarpur.
  • Over 9.4 million children across the province have been successfully vaccinated during the fractional Inactivated Polio Vaccine (f-IPV) campaign in August and the Sub-National Immunization Days (SNID) campaign in September.

Sources:

  • Sindh Government Press Release
  • Karamat Ali, "Pakistan's Divide a Big Challenge to Polio Eradication Efforts", Dawn
  • Fahim Siddiqui, "Sindh comes up with polio plan, commits to its removal within the 2023 target date", The News