KARACHI – The caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Fazal-ur-Rehman was informed that no polio case has been detected in the province of Sindh this year so far, however, Karachi and Qambar-Shahdadkot district have been rated as high-risk areas.
According to a statement issued after a review meeting of the performance of polio immunization programme, the CM Sindh was told that no polio case has been detected in Sindh as compared to last year when two polio cases were reported, from Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Gadap — both areas of Karachi.
In 2018 to date, Pakistan reported three cases (all from district Dukki of Balochistan), and Afghanistan eight cases; in Sindh, all six districts of Karachi are still classified as districts of highest risk.
The virus isolated from environmental sites (taken from sewage system), indicating ongoing virus transmission. ln Karachi, samples are taken from 11 sites every month.
The CM Sindh directed the Principal Secretary to call a meeting of the provincial task force on polio, on May 2, so that a strategy could be evolved to face the challenges.
The meeting was attended by Provincial Coordinator POCC Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Principal Secretary to CM Sohail Rajput, Secretary Health Fazal Pechuho, Provincial Coordinator Emergency Operation Center (EOC) (Fayaz Jatoi and Aziz Memon of International Polio plus Committee Rotary International.
The CM Sindh was told that all polio activities are guided by the National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP) and the three tiers structure provides oversight and direction to the polio programme.
The CM Sindh said that the situation could not be termed as normal and all the stakeholders, partners and civil society have to work together to make Pakistan polio-free zone.
The Provincial Task Force led by Chief Minister and/or Chief Secretary meets quarterly and has a membership of secretaries, Health and Education, all Commissioners, LEAs, and provincial heads of partner agencies.
Globally, Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only remaining countries with polio.
In May only Machhar Colony Gadap came positive. In Northern Sindh, samples were taken from six sites and Kamber became positive.
