Sindh CM launches province-wide anti-polio campaign

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Apr, 2026) Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah formally inaugurated the province-wide anti-polio campaign, reaffirming the government’s unwavering commitment to eradicating the crippling virus through sustained immunisation efforts, public awareness and coordinated action at all levels.

Launching the campaign at Government Boys Secondary School, Khayaban-e-Shujaat in Defence, the Chief Minister personally administered polio drops to children and later visited classrooms, where he also administered polio drops to children under five.

The ceremony was attended by education Minister Sardar Shah, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, IGP Sindh Javed Alam Odho, Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi, Secretary School Education Zahid Abbasi, Addlional IGP Karachi Azad Khan, Health Secretary Tahir Sangi, In-charge EOC Shehryar Gul, along with senior police officials and others.

The seven-day campaign, running from April 13 to 19, aims to vaccinate over 10.6 million children under the age of five across Sindh. In addition, Vitamin A supplements will be administered to approximately 9.4 million children to boost immunity and improve overall health outcomes.

Highlighting the scale of the initiative, the chief minister said that more than 83,000 trained frontline workers will conduct door-to-door visits to ensure that no child is left unvaccinated. To ensure the safety of teams, over 24,000 security personnel have been deployed, including more than 2,400 female police officers assigned to support and protect polio workers.

“These comprehensive measures reflect our strong commitment to safeguarding both our children and the frontline workforce,” said Murad Ali Shah, urging parents to cooperate fully with vaccination teams and ensure access to children under five years of age.

The chief minister noted that Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries where polio persists, stressing the urgency of sustained national efforts to eliminate the virus, he shared that Pakistan reported 74 polio cases in 2024 and 31 cases last year, while Sindh recorded nine cases in 2025, with nearly 80 percent of environmental samples testing positive for the virus.

Encouragingly, he added, significant progress has been made in 2026, with environmental positivity rates declining to 24 percent and only one case reported so far from district Sujawal. “We are closely monitoring the affected child, and thankfully no disability has occurred,” he said, adding that the government remains committed to ensuring full recovery and preventing further transmission.

Murad Ali Shah emphasised that repeated vaccination campaigns are essential to building immunity among children and eliminating the virus permanently. He reiterated that the polio vaccine is safe, effective, and certified by the World Health Organization.

Appealing to various segments of society, the chief minister called on parents, school administrations, media, religious scholars, and civil society to play their role in supporting the campaign. He urged the media to promote awareness and counter misinformation, while encouraging religious and community leaders to advocate for vaccination.

He also acknowledged the contributions of polio workers and security personnel, commending their dedication in reaching remote and high-risk areas under challenging conditions.

Referring to continued national efforts, the chief minister appreciated the support of First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari in promoting polio eradication, recalling that Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed had set a historic precedent by administering polio drops to her daughter during earlier campaigns.

Concluding his remarks, Murad Ali Shah reiterated that eliminating polio is vital for the country’s future and called for collective action to ensure that every child receives life-saving vaccination, paving the way for a polio-free Pakistan.