Chief Secretary Sindh, Syed Asif Hyder Shah, emphasized the urgent need for achieving 100% registration and routine immunization of newborns as a crucial step in the fight against poliovirus. Meeting key stakeholders including Coordinator of Emergency Operations Centre Sindh, Irshad Ali Sodhar, Secretary Health Syed Mansoor Abbas Rizvi, WHO, UNICEF, and representatives from NSTOP, Chief Secretary Shah reiterated his commitment to polio eradication.
Drawing from his proactive stance during his tenure as Commissioner Karachi, he emphasized the importance of targeting zero-dose children and aligning efforts between the polio program and the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). Additionally, Chief Secretary Shah announced plans to bolster the number of vaccinators and improve facilities to streamline vaccination drives for children.
He stressed that achieving full registration of newborns is paramount in the ongoing battle against polio. During the meeting, Coordinator of Emergency Operations Centre Sindh, Irshad Ali Sodhar, highlighted last year’s polio cases in Pakistan, including two from Sindh and four from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, underscoring the ongoing threat posed by the virus.
