Anti-polio campaign launched

KARACHI: A six-day polio eradication campaign was launched on Monday in Karachi to administer anti-polio vaccine drops to about 1.9 million children aged five or less in 174 union councils across Karachi.

Commissioner Karachi Muhammad sualeh Faruqui formally inaugurated the campaign at Sobheraj Hospital and it will continue till July 7, said a statement on Monday.

Deputy Commissioner south Muhammad Salahuddin ,Commissioner Karachi polio task force coordinator Dr Nusrat Ali, Officials of Health departments, representatives of WHO and UNICEF were also present on the occasion.

Talking to the media Commissioner Karachi told that the city administration is committed to playing its due role to eliminate the polio virus from the city with the coordinated efforts and support of international partners. He said Polio Eradication is a national cause and it would be top priority of city administration to carry out its efforts with constant support mechanism for the elimination of polio virus.

He appreciated the role of international partners and hoped that with the support of international partners and guidance of local and international experts Pakistan would be a polio free country soon.

He said no child should be missed for any reason from a vaccine and it is the duty of all stakeholders to make sure no child is left from the polio drops so that we have a healthy future for our generations.

He said to achieve this goal we would also work for the improvement of micro plan and strategy.

He said, "We need to involve community maximum in anti-polio programmes and get their full support.

He said all Deputy commissioner have been asked to focus on the refusal cases to get rid of this crippled virus and persuade parents who refused to get their children vaccinated also try to reach out to those who were not found during the campaign.