KARACHI – Despite running a mass drive against polio across Sindh since 1995, the Sindh government has yet to eradicate polio from the province. However, Sindh Chief Minister’s Adviser on Information Sharmila Farooqui justified the failure on Tuesday.
Talking to a delegation of doctors and field workers at her office, Farooqui said that the provincial government had failed due to deteriorating environmental conditions, improper sewerage system and malnutrition – factors that play an important role in polio’s spread.
Instead of disclosing how the government would resolve the adverse environmental conditions and improve the sanitation system in the province, Farooqui requested the media to create awareness among the masses for improving the environmental conditions.
She said that President Asif Ali Zardari had issued orders to finalise the National Emergency Action Plan 2011 to eradicate polio from Pakistan and directed the provincial government to focus on high-risk districts, including Karachi, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Sanghar, Kambar, Khairpur, Hyderabad, Shikarpur, Naushero Feroze, Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad and Kashmore.
The president has also directed the provincial government to constitute special monitoring teams, to provide technical management with social mobilisation, and to support the field workers working for polio’s eradication, she added.
She also said that after receiving directives from the president, the Sindh government had launched a mass vaccination drive in coordination with the World Health Organisation and non-governmental organisations to free Sindh from polio.
“It is the need of the hour for all the sections of the society to come forward and join hands in this noble cause,” she said, adding that the provincial government was committed to eradicate polio from the province.
