All-out efforts and concerted measures should be adopted to eradicate the menace of polio from Sindh, said Chief Minister (CM) Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Thursday. While presiding over a high-level meeting at the CM House on the alarming polio situation across the province, Shah said all Health executive district officers and staff as well as doctors have been tasked with carrying out their respective responsibilities for achieving the target of eradicating polio from the province. He said the number of polio cases in the province is increasing at an alarming rate and there should be no negligence in any case. “All of us must share our responsibilities for prompt and positive results,” he added.
Warning the district coordination officers (DCOs) of the province, he said show-cause notices would be issued to them if negligence is detected in any case of polio in their jurisdiction. The chief minister said the Sindh government is concerned over the issue of polio and the matter should be seriously taken up so the disease could be eradicated. He directed the chief secretary (CS) to coordinate with and monitor the working of all DCOs, who should hold frequent meetings over eradication of polio and communicate their progress reports to the CM Secretariat through the CS.
During the meeting, Member National Assembly Azra Pechuho stressed the need to expand the campaign against polio to union council level, and their progress and achievements be completely recorded. In his detailed presentation, Health Secretary Rizwan Ahmed highlighted the progress and efforts of the Health Department in combating the situation and measures evolved to eradicate the menace of polio. He said between 2010 and September 2011, 102 cases in all were reported across the country – including 19 in Sindh, two in Punjab, 10 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 44 in Balochistan, and one (up to May 2011) in Gilgit-Baltistan. He also said five of the cases reported in Sindh were of Karachi, three each of Thatta and Badin, two each of Tando Muhammad Khan and Sanghar, and one each of Tando Allahyar, Jamshoro, Hyderabad and Umerkot.