Despite harsh weather conditions, more than 400,000 frontline workers will vaccinate 45.5 million children against polio.
A health worker administers anti-polio drops to a child during the launch of the city-wide vaccination campaign, marking another crucial step in the fight to protect future generations from the crippling disease. PHOTO FILE: JALAL QURESHI/EXPRESS
KARACHI:
The last national polio eradication campaign of the year is set to begin on Monday and aims to vaccinate around 45.5 million children across the country.
The campaign was highlighted at an awareness event held at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, where Karachi Mayor’s lawyer Murtaza Wahab, union council chairmen, health partners and community leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening local government support for polio eradication.
Addressing the gathering, Mayor Wahab stressed that the government alone cannot eliminate polio without the cooperation of the public. “A helping hand requires two hands. The state needs your support,” he said, urging parents to ensure that their children receive anti-polio drops whenever vaccination teams visit their homes.
He pointed out that Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries in the world where polio has not yet been eradicated, while several Muslim-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Nigeria, have managed to eliminate the disease. “This shows that polio can be defeated through collective efforts,” he added.
Despite harsh weather conditions, more than 400,000 frontline polio workers will take part in the campaign, going door to door across the country to administer the vaccine. Health officials described the campaign as a crucial opportunity to protect children from permanent disability caused by the virus.
The mayor highlighted the role of women, religious leaders and community elders in dispelling misconceptions about the vaccine, saying mothers and sisters can play a key role in convincing families to vaccinate their children. He also commended health workers for their dedication, especially during emergency situations.
Terming Karachi as the most educated city in the country, Wahab said it was important to counter negative perceptions surrounding polio vaccination.
On civic issues, the mayor said, each union council chairman currently receives Rs 1.3 million in monthly funds, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in the use of public money. He also urged citizens to report stolen or missing manhole covers by calling 1334.
The event brought together representatives from several political parties, including the Pakistan People’s Party, JUI-F and PTI, reflecting a rare display of political consensus on the need to protect children and eliminate polio from Pakistan once and for all.
