Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday launched a seven-day National Polio Eradication Campaign in Sindh, reaffirming the provincial government’s commitment to eliminating the crippling disease and calling upon parents, community leaders, religious scholars, civil society, and the media to play an active role in ensuring that every child receives the life-saving vaccine.The Chief Minister inaugurated the campaign during a visit to the Rotary Club Community Centre in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, where he also administered polio drops to children.

Secretary School education Zahid Abbasi, Health Secretary Tahir Sangi, Polio Programme In-Charge Shehryar Gul, representatives of partner organisations Aziz Memon of Rotary International, and others attended the ceremony. Prior to the inauguration, the Chief Minister reviewed various facilities at the Rotary Club Community Centre and was briefed on ongoing efforts to support children affected by polio.He visited the prosthetics unit, where children disabled by polio are being provided with artificial limbs and callipers, and reviewed physiotherapy services being offered for their rehabilitation.

During the visit, the Chief Minister met Huma, a polio worker who had lost both legs due to the disease. Aziz Memon informed him that Rotary International had facilitated the provision of artificial limbs to her. He also interacted with children affected by polio and reviewed the support and rehabilitation services being extended to them.Addressing the inaugural ceremony, the Chief Minister said that in the entire world, only two countries are left where the polio virus is still affecting children, but stressed that significant challenges still remained.

He noted that Pakistan and Afghanistan were the only two countries in the world where the polio virus continued to circulate. He said that 31 polio cases were reported in Pakistan and 21 in Afghanistan last year. In 2026, Pakistan has so far reported four cases, including one from Sujawal district in Sindh and three from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while Afghanistan has recorded 29 cases.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)