By our correspondent
KARACHI: “Karachi is moving closer towards polio eradication as we have seen tremendous development in the municipal system, but rumors on social media remain the biggest challenge in our fight against the virus,” said Sheheryar Memon, Coordinator of the Sindh Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).
Addressing a media briefing on the upcoming Polio Booster Dose Campaign at the Karachi Press Club on Friday.
The briefing was attended by members of the Sindh Polio Eradication Programme, the EOC core team, health experts, and representatives from World Health Organization and UNICEF.
To build public confidence and reassure parents about the safety of the vaccine, EOC Coordinator Sheheryar Memon and several journalists participating in the session received the polio booster dose during the event.
The campaign will be launched from May 12 to 25 in 89 high-risk Union Councils of Karachi, where children up to 10 years of age will be administered a polio booster dose aimed at strengthening immunity and interrupting poliovirus transmission.
Highlighting progress in Sindh, Sheheryar Memon said continued improvements in the health and municipal systems were supporting eradication efforts, though misinformation on social media remained a major obstacle.
Dr Sandeep, speaking on the occasion, said the booster dose campaign was a critical intervention for protecting children against poliovirus and confirmed that all children up to 10 years of age would be vaccinated during the drive.
He urged parents to ensure participation, stating that the polio booster dose was free, safe and essential for every eligible child. He further noted that despite a sharp global decline in polio cases, Karachi remained a high-risk area requiring sustained vigilance.
The briefing concluded with a renewed call for collective public action and cooperation to permanently eliminate polio and protect every child from lifelong disability.
