During ongoing anti-polio drive, 7% of areas of division remain inaccessible due to flooding and rainwater drainage issues, affecting 61 areas with unstable coverage and 35 areas still missing due to various reasons
- Private schools of Hyderabad refuse to cooperate during anti-polio drive; Sindh Education Department issues warning
Hyderabad, Sindh
Divisional Commissioner Bilal Ahmed Memon has expressed concern over the prevalence of polio virus in Hyderabad division at a dangerous level, as per claim of the World Health Organization (WHO) representative.
“To eliminate the polio virus, all resources will be utilized to achieve the target set during the anti-polio campaign,” Commissioner said speaking at a meeting attended by Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad Zain-ul- abdin Memon, WHO representative, DHO Hyderabad Dr. Lala Jaffer, and other officers on Friday September 13, 2024. Other deputy commissioners of division participated by video link.
The briefings were given on the progress made during the four-day anti-polio campaign. The Issues like refusal cases, obstacles in backward areas, not available cases, and missed cases were discussed.
Commissioner Bilal Ahmed Memon stated that the seven-day anti-polio campaign aims to vaccinate 24,27,868 children under five years, with 94 percent coverage achieved so far, totaling 19,42,266 vaccinations.
He however said that 7% of areas of division remain inaccessible due to flooding and rainwater drainage issues, affecting 61 areas with unstable coverage and 35 areas still missing due to various reasons.
Commissioner Hyderabad encouraged good-performing districts and noted that coverage in four districts, Hyderabad, Badin, Dadu, and Thatta is less than 80% in its five union councils. He emphasized the need to persuade parents in districts with high refusal cases, such as Badin, Thatta, and Hyderabad.
Bilal Memon highlighted the importance of monitoring operations in detecting denied cases and not available cases. With overall 94% coverage completed, he stressed the need to mobilize refusal cases in urban areas and urged stakeholders to work together with the districts administration to end the polio campaign successfully.
Meanwhile, following complaints of non-cooperation from private schools during the anti-polio campaign in Hyderabad, Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad, Zain-ul-Abideen Memon wrote a letter to the Additional Chief Secretary of School Education to inform him of the situation. Consequently, the Sindh Education Department has issued a circular to private educational institutions in Hyderabad, instructing them to cooperate with the district administration during the anti-polio campaign. The circular directs all school administrations to fully cooperate with the polio teams. It further states that action will be taken against school administrations that do not comply. (PR)
Read: 2 New Polio Cases Detected in Sindh
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