One Polio Case was detected in Lakhi area of Shikarpur and the other one in Keamari Karachi
Karachi, Sindh
Sindh Health Department has confirmed that two new polio cases were detected in May and June 2024 in the province.
The first case involved a 30-month-old malnourished boy from the Jatoi tribe in Lakhi area of Shikarpur, who tested positive for polio on May 11, 2024. The second case involved a three-year-old girl from the Malkani tribe in UC Keamari-3 of Karachi, who was diagnosed with polio on June 3, 2024.
In a meeting on July 8, 2024, the Health Minister, Dr. Azra Fazal, informed the Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah that the first child’s condition was improving, and the paralysis had subsided.
In response to a question, Coordinator EOC Irshad Sodhar mentioned that the child had received three doses of RI OPV and two doses of IPV. Minister Health Dr. Azra highlighted that 73 per cent of children within six union councils of Shikarpur had been administered IPV.
As regards second case, it was informed that the affected child had received three doses of RI OPV, two doses of IPV, and over 7 doses of SIAs.
The Health Minister mentioned that in response to this case, 18,000 children were vaccinated with OPV and over 4,000 children received the IPV booster dose.
Chief Minister, displeased with the discovery of two polio cases in the province, directed the health department to intensify efforts to eradicate the disease and fulfil his government’s commitment to polio eradication.
The Chief Minister emphasized the need to sustain high-quality immunization campaigns with little margin of error in Karachi due to the significant risk posed by the amplification and spread of the polio virus. He also stressed the assessment of under-reported missed children and other risk factors, especially in-migrant settlements.
Coordinator EOC Irshad Sodhar reported that a special targeted activity was initiated to cover high-risk and under-immunized children as directed by the Chief Secretary. Over 600 outreach sites were set up in 183 UCs to target children who were still missed, persistently missed (PMCs), and zero-dose, along with administering the booster IPV dose. So far, 38920 children have been vaccinated with OPV and 18710 children have received IPV.
To a question the CM was told that in Karachi Sohrab Goth, Machhar Colony, Chakora Nalla, Rashid Minhas areas the polio virus was detected from the sewage in September 2023. In June the environmental surveillance result of Machhar Colony and Chakora Nala came negative. Khamiso Goth, Mohammad Khan Colony, Orangi Nalla, Bakhtawar Goth, Korangi Nalla, Haji Mureed Goth, Hijrat Colony and Manzoor Colony have environmental Surveillance results positive.
The environmental surveillance results for various divisions in Sindh are as follows:
Sukkur Saddar Police Station Positive.
Hyderabad: Tulsidas police station, Qadir Nagar Police area, and Latifabad Police: Positive. Badin Mahammad Wali Dargah police: Positive
Mirpurkhas Ring Road and Puraan area: Positive
The Chief Minister instructed the health department to ramp up efforts for polio eradication. This includes engaging key influencers and conducting awareness sessions in Madares. Refusal of vaccination is not tolerated. (PR)
Read: Football Match in Lyari Karachi played for awareness on immunization
_____________________
