KARACHI - The anti-polio drive began Monday with an aim to vaccinate around 2.2 million children.
Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad inaugurated the drive. He said for better and sustainable results of anti-polio campaigns, female workers from local communities have been hired to ensure vaccination of every child.
He was talking to media after inauguration of three days anti-polio drive at Hilal-e-Ahmer Hospital, Clifton area. Karachi Commissioner Syed Asif Haider, Deputy Commissioner South Zone and officials of health department were also present on the occasion.
Ebad said anti-polio workers engaged in campaign had better access to their local communities, clearing the reservations of people. To a query about the security of teams, he said government had ensured security of the workers as per the needs and sensitivity of areas. The cases of refusals had decreased and now the parents are aware that anti-polio drops are essential to save their children from disability. To another query regarding effectiveness of polio vaccine, the governor said government would not tolerate any kind of ignorance and officials were directed to monitor the entire campaign, eliminating all errors. “It is our collective responsibility to aware the people about the benefits of anti-polio drops and efforts should be made to approach people from all walks of life.
He opined that polio eradication from our country is very essential for rapid economic growth. “It is worth mentioning that the operation in tribal areas has minimised the emergence of polio cases from those areas as more and more children are being given anti-polio drops,” he added.
Earlier, Commissioner Syed Asif Hyder informed the governor that around 6,000 anti-polio teams have been constituted to vaccinate about 2.2 million children during the ongoing drive.
It is worth mentioning here that police are providing comprehensive security cover to the anti-polio teams and other stakeholders during the campaign that started from Monday.
According to Sindh AIG Operations Ghayasuddin Rashidi, about 5,000 police commandos/personnel drawn from Sindh Reserve Police, Counter Terrorism Department, Sindh Crime Branch, Anti-Encroachment Cell, Shaheed Benazirabad Elite Police Training School Razaqabad, and Police Training College Saeedabad/RTC Hyderabad, Jam Nawaz and PTC Shahdadpur will perform security duties in addition to the existing force of Karachi Police.
Karachi Police have deputed around 7,000 police personnel, 410 mobiles and 240 motorcycles provide cover to the anti-polio teams. The AIG Operations, in his report, further added that 240 police commandos from RRF and 200 commandos from SSU have also been placed at the disposal of Karachi Police for the very purpose. According to the Sindh Police spokesman, this is being done to provide foolproof security to health workers, doctors, children and families particularly in the areas of sensitive union councils, during the five days campaign.