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Rumours remain biggest hurdle in Karachi’s polio fight: EOC

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PPEI expert says intensified vaccination needed as virus risks persist IV Report KARACHI: The Sindh Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) on Friday announced that it was set to launch a polio booster dose campaign in 89 high-risk union councils of Karachi from May 12 to 25, aiming to strengthen immunity among children and interrupt poliovirus transmission. Speaking at a media briefing at the Karachi Press Club, EOC Coordinator Sheheryar Memon said Karachi was moving closer to polio eradication, but misinformation and rumours continued to pose major challenges to the campaign. Children up to 10 years of age will receive the booster dose during the drive, which targets areas considered vulnerable to persistent virus circulation. Members of the Sindh Polio Eradication Programme, health experts, paediatricians and health reporters attended the briefing. To build public confidence, Mr Memon and several journalists received booster doses during the session. Mr Memon said vaccination ...
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Doctors denounce govt parleys with tobacco industry

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                                                                      IV File photo Pakistan Chest Society says cooperation with cigarette firms violates public health commitments, urges higher tobacco taxes IV Report KARACHI: Even as concerns grow within the medical fraternity over continuing government engagement with tobacco companies, another meeting between representatives of an international cigarette manufacturer and federal authorities took place in Islamabad. According to an official handout issued on Thursday, a delegation of Philip Morris International (PMI) called on Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan to discuss illicit cigarette trade, tobacco sector reforms, regulatory gaps and export potential. The delegation was led by PMI President CIS & Central Asia Marco Mariotti, who briefe...
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Karachi polio booster drive backed as new tests detect virus

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Experts warn of silent circulation; drive planned in 89 of 246 UCs IV Report Bottom of Form KARACHI: Leading medical bodies and child health experts have endorsed a targeted polio booster dose campaign in Karachi, as fresh environmental surveillance has confirmed continued circulation of the virus in the city, the Sindh Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) said on Wednesday. At a consultation held at the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology, the Pakistan Pediatric Association (PPA), Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), and senior pediatricians backed the campaign scheduled from May 12 to 25 in 89 union councils. Karachi has a total of 246 union councils, and experts urged that the effort be expanded citywide to ensure broader protection. Sindh EOC Coordinator Sheheryar Memon said five recent environmental samples collected from Karachi had tested positive for poliovirus — a worrying sign, particularly during what is typically considered a low transmission season. He w...
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KU scientists unlock Red Sindhi cattle genome

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Breakthrough linked to economic gains, disease resistance and modern livestock breeding By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: Scientists at the University of Karachi have successfully completed the whole genome sequencing of Red Sindhi cattle, a milestone they say could significantly boost Pakistan’s livestock economy and strengthen disease control efforts. The researchers describe the breakthrough as a “transformational step” toward modernising the country’s livestock sector through genomic science, opening new avenues for precision breeding, enhanced productivity, and improved resistance to diseases. The work, led by the Dr A Q Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (KIBGE) , also included genomic characterisation of the Lumpy Skin Disease virus, enabling deeper insights into host–pathogen interactions and infection control strategies. The project was carried out under the Sindh Higher Education Commission’s Post-Doctoral Fellowship Programme by Dr Roohi Kanwal, an a...
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Midwife shortage a pressing challenge for Pakistan

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High birth rates, a widening workforce gap and weak support systems underscore urgency on International Day of the Midwives KARACHI: As Pakistan joins the global community in marking the International Day of the Midwives on May 5, calls are growing to address a critical shortage of skilled birth attendants, with experts terming investment in midwifery as one of the most effective pathways to reducing maternal and newborn deaths. This year’s theme, set by the International Confederation of Midwives — “One million more midwives” — underscores a stark global reality. While nearly 1.7 million midwives are currently registered worldwide, an additional 980,000 are needed to meet essential maternal and newborn health demands. The potential gains are significant: scaling up midwifery care could help save an estimated 4.3 million lives annually by 2035. For Pakistan, the message carries particular urgency. According to global and national estimates, the country was home to over 60.5 mi...
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Doctors decry data blackout, seek HIV emergency in Sindh

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Experts link spread to unsafe injections, poor screening and weak healthcare regulation By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: Alleging that successive governments have failed to make consolidated HIV data public, senior physicians and infectious disease experts on Saturday warned that Pakistan’s HIV situation was worsening, with rising infections among children and low-risk groups reflecting serious weaknesses in the healthcare system. They urged authorities to declare the growing number of paediatric HIV cases in Sindh a public health emergency and launch urgent corrective measures. Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club organised by the Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA), the experts said the informal information currently available suggested that “all is not well” with HIV prevention and control efforts across the country. They maintained that the spread of infection beyond traditionally high-risk groups pointed to systemic failures in infection prevention, regul...
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Sindh vows full vaccine coverage again

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Health minister joins World Immunisation Week celebrations; routine immunisation hits 80% IV Report KARACHI: The Sindh government reaffirmed its commitment to universal child immunisation as Provincial Minister for Health and Population Welfare Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho joined World Immunisation Week 2026 celebrations at SMB Fatima Jinnah Government Girls School on Tuesday. The provincial event, held during the global observance from April 24 to 30, was organised by the Sindh Health Department and the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Sindh, in collaboration with UNICEF, the World Health Organisation, EOC Sindh, AMAN, and other core EPI partners. Provincial Minister for Health led the event, stressing that immunisation is “a fundamental right of every child” and “a shared responsibility to ensure that no child is left unprotected.” “Vaccines are our strongest shield against disability and death. Our mission is to ensure that every child in Sindh — whether living in the hi...
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