Cops to be deployed on priority basis with stand-by Rangers during OPV campaign in Karachi

KARACHI: Cops will be deployed on priority basis at Super High Polio Risk Areas in Karachi, where if needed Rangers could also be called, decided the meeting held Friday to finalize arrangements for special polio eradication campaign from Saturday to Tuesday.

Commissioner of Karachi, Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui chairing the meeting on the occasion also appointed Director Health, KMC, Dr. Zafar Ejaz as the focal person and in-charge of the campaign to be simultaneously held at eight Super High Risk Areas and three other High Risk Areas, pertaining to districts Malir, West and East respectively.

The participants including Deputy Commissioners, EDO - Health (KMC Health Director, Dr. Zafar Ejaz, SSP Ejaz Hashmi, Health Officers from all relevant towns, other relevant officials besides representatives of WHO after extensive deliberations gave a final shape to the propose exercise.

"Our target is that no under five child is missed during the four day exercise," commissioner told APP mentioning that the estimated number of these children is 2,43,407 children.

"This has been decided in principle that rangers may also be called in areas where refusals are registered by communities," he said replying to a query.

Preference would be to take into confidence and get involved influential members of the communities, head of families, imams of area mosques etc so as to ensure smooth and fool proof execution of the scheme.

Additional security arrangements are being made in the areas, where security situation was experienced during previous campaigns, he said identifying UC Gujjar in Gadap Town, District East, Songal and Manghopir Union Councils in district west, Ittehad UC in Baldia Town and UC Islamia Colony in SITE Town and in Orangi Town UC Chisti Nagar and so-forth.

The Commissioner said 692 committees have been constituted for the purpose under the supervision of 159 area in-charges with added assistance of medical officers from 25 UCs

A total of 876 polio workers and supervisors would be actively involved in the special campaign said Commissioner Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui.