Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab on Monday inaugurated a special anti-polio campaign during the opening ceremony of the Polio Booster Dose Campaign at Lyari International Football Stadium.
Officials said that under the campaign, children aged between 4 months and 10 years will be provided effective protection against polio. Booster doses will be administered through painless jet injectors. During the inauguration ceremony, the Mayor personally administered anti-polio drops to children.
During the campaign, 2 million children across Karachi will receive polio booster doses to protect them from the deadly disease and possible disability. Wahab, speaking to media representatives, said access to vaccines for every child is being ensured to eradicate polio, and collective efforts are essential for a polio-free Karachi. He stated that the anti-polio drive is being further strengthened across the city, including Lyari, so that no child is deprived of protective vaccination. He appealed to parents to ensure that children up to five years of age receive polio drops and advised them not to pay attention to negative propaganda.
He further said that vaccines used in government and private hospitals are of the same standard, while the World Health Organisation and medical experts have also declared the vaccine safe. He urged citizens to fully cooperate with polio teams during the next twelve to thirteen days so that Pakistan can be made permanently polio-free.
The mayor said the complete eradication of polio is essential for a healthy and secure future, and all relevant institutions are working together to achieve this goal. He said that reaching every child in a large city like Karachi is certainly a challenge; however, the government, municipal institutions, and healthcare workers are performing this national duty with full dedication to protect future generations from disability.
