By Afshan Lalani
KARACHI: The Rotary Foundation Trustee 2020-24 and National Chair Polio Plus Aziz Memon organized a meeting with the EOC Sindh to discuss the current polio situation and provided an update to Rotary delegates on the EOC Sindh’s efforts. The Rotary delegation included IPDG Hanif Khan, PP Shahzad Sabir, PP Muneeb Khan, and Asher Ali PNPPC.
The meeting was chaired by EOC Coordinator Irshad Sodhar, and attended by WHO Team Lead Dr. Asif Ali, UNICEF Team Lead Dr. Shokat Ali, N-STOP Team Lead Dr. Shumaila Rasool, and other EOC officers.
Irshad Sodhar welcomed the Rotary delegation to the EOC Sindh and presented an overview of the team’s initiatives to eradicate the crippling disease. Trustee Aziz Memon outlined the meeting’s objectives, emphasizing the importance of gaining insights into Sindh’s polio eradication efforts. He stressed the need for Community-Based Volunteers (CBVs) to be from their respective areas to improve community engagement and address vaccine refusals effectively.
Dr. Asif Ali, WHO Team Lead, presented an update on the current polio cases and environmental positive samples across Sindh. He reported two polio cases: one in Shikarpur and another in Kemari district, Karachi. The Shikarpur case was linked to low immunity due to malnutrition, a condition affecting 52% of children in Sindh. While local virus circulation has been halted, Dr. Asif highlighted that the current cases involve inactivated polio viruses. To prevent its spread, mop-up sessions are being conducted in Jamshoro, Dadu, Mirpurkhas, and Badin districts, along with planned IPV and OPV campaigns. Jet Injection will be administered to children aged 4-59 months in areas with persistent environmental positivity.
Irshad Sodhar emphasized the need for collaboration among PPHI, EPI, EOC, and Rotary. He suggested using gift packs containing soaps for hygiene purposes and balloons to attract children and parents to outreach sites.
Trustee Aziz Memon shared that the Trust for Malnutrition & Stunted Growth (TMSG) is actively working in Pakistan and offered full support for interventions in needed areas. He also mentioned that Rotary has developed a Speaking Book in Urdu, Sindhi, and Pashto to promote hygiene in high-risk communities.
Dr. Shaikh reported that two PTP shelters on the Karachi-Balochistan border and the motorway have been renovated and requested an inauguration.
The meeting concluded with EOC Coordinator Irshad Sodhar expressing gratitude for Rotary’s previous support and reaffirming the EOC Sindh’s commitment to eradicating polio from Pakistan.
