Polio eradication efforts gain momentum in Karachi

IV Report

KARACHI: In the first phase of a special anti-polio campaign, the Emergency Operation Centre's (EOC) polio teams administered fractional Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) to 95% of the target children aged 4-59 months in 40 selected union councils (UCs) across Karachi's six districts.

The teams also gave oral polio drops (OPV) to children up to five years old in the same UCs for five days, achieving an overall OPV coverage of 98%.

The second phase of the campaign is set to begin on August 21, covering another 45 selective UCs, including seven in the Korangi district, and will continue until August 25.

Claiming over 95% vaccination coverage achieved in Karachi’s first phase of fIPV/OPV drive, EOC officials in a statement said that the remaining half million children in 45 UCs will be vaccinated in the second round of the polio drive.

“Despite initial resistance to the fIPV on the first day, the campaign witnessed a steady improvement. Motivated team leaders and volunteers worked diligently to ensure every child in the targeted areas was vaccinated,” remarked the Sindh EOC Coordinator Irshad Ali Sodhar.


The EOC data released on August 20 revealed the district wise coverage rates as: For fIPV – South (99%), Central (96%), Malir (96%), East (93%), Keamari (84%) and West (100%). For OPV -- South (113%), Central (104%), Malir (97%), East (96%), Keamari (89%) and West (90%).

By the end of the campaign’s fifth day, 509,869 (94.83%) out of 537,638 deserving children received fIPV, while 540,093 (94.78%) out of 569,835 children were given OPV, it was further said.

Meanwhile, Unicef''s Pakistan Polio Team Lead, Melissa Corkum, a seasoned expert in public health, attended a morning briefing at UC-22 Hyderi. She also visited outreach sites in UC-21 Khandu Goth, reviewed children's vaccination status, and engaged with caregivers, according to sources.

With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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