First Anti-polio Drive of 2019 Begins in Karachi

KARACHI- Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for Polio in Sindh launched its first anti- polio campaign for the year 2019, across the province of Sindh.

This year, approximately 9 million children under the age of 5 are the target population. More than 50,000 front line workers have participated in this campaign; including team members and area in charges. This five day drive is said to continue till January 27th in Karachi and till January 25th in the remaining districts of Sindh.

More than 13,000 polio teams are assigned in Karachi, to go door to door, administering polio drops to children. Upto 5,000 law enforcement agency officials have been deputed for security of these teams.

Sindh has reported its lowest polio case count in history, as only 01 case was registered in 2018,  from Gadap area in Karachi. This was revealed in comparison to 02 cases in 2017, 08 in 2016, 12 in 2015 and 30 in 2014.

A significant reduction of  99% has been seen in polio cases, across Pakistan since 2014, whereas the total case count for Pakistan in 2018 is 10. In 2017, the case count was 08, 20 in year 2016, in 2015 it was 54 and 306 cases in 2014.