KARACHI: Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi on Friday said complete eradication of polio was a top priority of the government and all the stakeholders, including the city administration, Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) and Sindh health department, were working with a national spirit to eliminate polio.
Talking to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Program Officer for Immunisation Dr Nahad Sadr Azodi at his office, the commissioner apprised him about the efforts being made against polio in Karachi. He said the EOC and all seven deputy commissioners under his supervision were making concerted and coordinated efforts to eradicate polio.
He said that in Karachi, efforts had almost been close to eradicating poliovirus from the environment several times. “There was a time when there was no polio case in the city,” he added.
Consultations were held between the representative of the Gates Foundation and the commissioner about measures to strengthen the routine immunisation to eradicate the poliovirus.
The commissioner said Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali shah, Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah and Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho were paying special attention to the cause of polio and from time to time they held meetings with the commissioner and all the seven deputy commissioners of Karachi and other officers of the city administration to review the efforts.
Naqvi said that for the complete eradication of poliovirus in Karachi, focus had been initiated on routine immunisation, which had yielded positive results.
Of the 12 sensitive union committees, environmental samples of 10 had tested negative, the meeting was told. The commissioner said it was an important development and added that this would help in future planning for the efforts being made to make the country free from polio.
EPI representative Dr Ehsanullah Khan and Commissioner Polio Coordinator Saud Yaqoob were also present on the occasion. The meeting reviewed various steps being taken to strengthen routine immunisation.
It was said that the deputy commissioners of the seven districts of Karachi would play an effective role in the strategy to strengthen immunisation. The meeting also discussed the possibility for the improvement of routine immunisation at the divisional level.
The commissioner thanked the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for its cooperation and partnership for polio eradication.
