KARACHI (HRNW): Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, officially inaugurated the National Polio Eradication Campaign today, marking the beginning of a week-long drive scheduled to run from April 13 to April 19, 2026. During the ceremony, the Chief Minister announced that the campaign targets 10.6 million children for polio drops, while 9.4 million children will also receive Vitamin A supplements to boost their overall health and immunity. To execute this massive undertaking, approximately 83,000 trained frontline workers will conduct door-to-door visits across the province, supported by a robust security detail of over 24,000 personnel, including 2,400 lady police officers dedicated to protecting the teams. The Chief Minister highlighted that while 2025 saw a high environmental positivity rate of 80% with nine cases in Sindh, the situation in 2026 has shown significant improvement, with environmental samples dropping to 24% and only one case reported so far from District Sujawal.
Emphasizing that Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the last two polio-endemic countries in the world, Murad Ali Shah reiterated that repeated vaccination rounds are essential to building the necessary immunity to finally eradicate the virus. He reassured the public that the polio vaccine is safe, effective, and certified by the World Health Organization (WHO), urging parents to cooperate fully with visiting teams to ensure no child is left behind. The Chief Minister also called upon school administrations to facilitate access for vaccination teams and appealed to religious scholars, the media, and civil society to combat misinformation through responsible reporting and awareness. He concluded by stating that the government remains steadfast in its commitment to a polio-free Pakistan, viewing the protection of the next generation as a top national priority.
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