Sack DCs, SSPs, DHOs not performing in polio drives, orders CM

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed the chief secretary to sack all those deputy commissioners (DCs), senior superintendents of police (SSPs) and district health officers (DHOs) who are not actively contributing to the polio campaign.

“I am working tirelessly to eliminate polio, but I am facing three challenges: refusal cases, reluctance from officers concerned, and migration, which introduces the polio virus into the province,” said Shah.

Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal and Emergency Operations Centre Incharge Irshad Sodhar gave detailed briefings to Shah during a meeting he chaired at the CM House on Wednesday.

They said that 50 polio cases have been reported nationwide, with Sindh accounting for 13 cases, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 11, Punjab with one, and Balochistan with 24.

In Sindh, there are two cases each in Hyderabad, Jacobabad and Keamari, along with one case each in Shikarpur, East (Gujro), Sujawal, Malir, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar and Ghotki.

Regarding the demographics and the polio/EPI situation, they said that there are 10.6 million children under the age of five in the province. Additionally, 321,323 children have been recorded as migrating with their parents. Currently, 69 per cent of the children are fully immunised.

In 2024, reports indicated that 66 per cent of the samples collected from 20 districts across Sindh tested positive for environmental samples of the virus.

When the CM asked about the situation, he was informed that 43,227 refusal cases were identified in various districts in October. Shah said: “The time for refusals is over; we cannot afford them.”

He directed the DCs and the SSPs, through the CS, to ensure the administration of polio drops, warning that failure to do so would result in action against them.

During the briefing, the CM was informed that six district administrations performed poorly during the October campaign: Jamshoro, Central, East, Malir, Kashmore and Tharparkar.

The CM instructed CS Asif Hyder Shah to direct the underperforming district administration, police and DHOs to either improve their performance or pack up. “I want you [the CS] to investigate the matter and take necessary action.”

Shah concluded by noting that Pakistan, with 50 cases, and Afghanistan, with 23 cases, are the only two countries where the poliovirus remains prevalent. “We must eradicate it through our dedicated efforts, and all stakeholders, including parents, need to unite to support the government.”