Indus Vitals

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Signs campus mental health pledge on Wellness Day IV Report KARACHI: Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) marked the first International Wellness Day 2026 on April 27 by announcing the establishment of a Health and Wellness Centre and launching a university-wide Wellness Pledge aimed at addressing stress and burnout among students and faculty. The initiative was led by Dr M Iqbal Afridi in collaboration with the Internal Medicine Interest Group of Sindh Medical College-JSMU under the theme, “Integrating joy and sustainable health practices into daily life.” The United Nations had declared April 15 as International Wellness Day on March 10 this year. Introducing the resolution, Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Lok Bahadur Thapa, said the world was facing mounting health challenges and stressed the need for stronger, more resilient health systems. Speaking at the JSMU event, Dr Afridi said stress had become normalised in the fast-paced world of medicine, while burn...