Provincial Minister for Health Mehtab Hussain Dahar Saturday said Sindh Polio Emergency Operational Cell has pointed out 11 union councils of Karachi where 23 polio cases have been reported in 2014 so far so, and three-day anti-polio campaign would be carried in these UCs every week.
In his statement, Mehtab said polio is not only a Sindh-related issue but a national issue and it is the responsibility of people from top to bottom level to play their due role for eradication of polio. He said the provincial government is committed to make Sindh province polio free in collaboration of all stakeholders including local administration, population welfare, education department, WHO, UNICIEF, Rotary and BGMF.
He further claimed that there is 95 percent polio coverage in Sindh province, but admitted that polio teams are facing resistance in some areas of Karachi.
Meanwhile, Karachi Health Director Dr Zafar Ejaz said anti-polio drive has been started in 11 high-risk UCs of Karachi on Saturday, where over 243,000 children would be administrated polio vaccine during campaign. He said polio teams successfully administrated polio drops to children in high-risk UCs of city on first of drive. He said law enforcement agencies have also provided security to polio teams.
