Commissioner Sukkur Fayaz Hussain Abbasi directs polio prevention task force to ensure 100pc coverage in upcoming campaign, urging to focus on strengthening polio eradication efforts across Sukkur Division
By Imtiaz Hussain
SUKKUR: A critical meeting of the Divisional Task Force (DTF) for polio prevention was convened under the chair of Commissioner Sukkur Fayyaz Hussain Abbasi. The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Khairpur Ahmad Fawad Shah, Deputy Commissioner Sukkur Dr. MB Raja Dharejo, Additional Deputy Commissioner Ghotki Liaquat Ali, alongside representatives from health, education, EPI, PPHI, WHO, and the police.
Commissioner Sukkur underscored the importance of focusing efforts on the 22 Union Committees of Sukkur during the upcoming polio campaign, scheduled from September 9 to 15. Expressing concern, he highlighted that, according to recent reports, approximately 1,500 children were not available during the previous polio vaccination campaign, which is a significant challenge that needs to be addressed. Of particular concern was the report of 102 children missing in the Naya Goth area of Sukkur.
Commissioner Abbasi emphasized that this issue points to potential inefficiencies in the polio teams’ operations within these Union Councils, urging that the growing number of polio cases in Balochistan and number of positive ES samples across the country could potentially pose a threat to the Sukkur Division too, and hence, a proactive approach is essential. He said, “We cannot afford any complacency in polio control, especially with the risks emerging from neighboring regions.” He expressed concern over Pakistan’s classification as a country transmitting the polio virus to Afghanistan in national-level polio meetings, urging all involved to take this as a serious call to action.
Fayaz Abbasi set a clear directive to achieve a 100 percent target in the upcoming polio campaign, ensuring that no child should be left without vaccination. He also addressed the ongoing Solangi-Jagirani dispute in UC Kot Mir Muhammad of Khairpur, stating that if the conflict remained unresolved, the area should be temporarily excluded from the current campaign and included in future initiatives. In a firm stance against misinformation, Commissioner Abbasi warned against fake reporting, emphasizing that accurate and fact-based reports are crucial for effectively tackling the polio challenge.
During the briefing, it was revealed that the upcoming polio campaign will cover 109 union councils across the division, targeting the vaccination of 944,378 children. Of these, 60 union councils are in Sukkur alone. Special measures have been implemented in the Katcha areas, where boats have been arranged to ensure that more than 40,000 children receive their polio drops.
The Commissioner also directed the Director of Schools to appoint focal persons within the education department across the three districts of the division to ensure the success of the polio campaign in schools. Additionally, in light of the recent increase in river water levels in Khairpur and Ghotki, special arrangements for boats and life jackets for the polio teams were mandated to ensure safe and effective operations. Commissioner Abbasi concluded the meeting by reiterating the importance of the upcoming campaign and the collective responsibility of all departments involved to safeguard the future of the region’s children through comprehensive and diligent polio eradication efforts.
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