In a groundbreaking move, the Sindh government has taken a firm stand against polio, a debilitating disease that continues to threaten the health of children. The government has enacted the Sindh Immunization and Epidemic Control Bill 2023, which empowers deputy commissioners to penalize parents who refuse to vaccinate their children against polio.
Parents who choose not to vaccinate their children will face a hefty fine of 50,000 rupees and a potential jail term of one month. The health department and polio workers will identify these parents and coordinate with the police to enforce these penalties. The Sindh police have directed to fully support the health department and polio workers in this endeavor.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah recently launched a week-long anti-polio campaign across 24 districts. The campaign kicked off at the newly established Gulshan-e-Aka Khail in Gadap, where the Chief Minister administered polio drops to children. He urged parents to safeguard their children’s future by ensuring they receive the oral polio vaccine.
“Let us, as a community, strive for a polio-free environment and secure a healthier future for our children,” said CM Murad.
Over 62,000 workers will run the campaign, vaccinating all eligible children. About 4,000 security staff will assist. The Chief Minister urges schools, hospitals, and caregivers to support these vaccinators in the fight against polio.
Earlier on April 19, the polio virus detected in environmental samples from Karachi and Quetta. The same cross-border virus found in two polio-positive cases earlier this year in Chaman and Dera Bugti. So far, the polio virus has detected in sewerage and environmental samples from 31 districts of the country.
The news highlights Sindh government’s role in polio eradication through vaccination. Their actions prioritize children’s health for a polio-free future.
