KARACHI: Taking stock of the province`s polio situation ahead of another immunisation campaign, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday underscored the need for collective action and accountability at every level to tackle the public health challenge.

Chairing a meeting of the provincial polio task force at the CM House, Mr Shah reviewed the recent epidemiological trends, assessed the performance and finalised preparations for the upcoming polio drive.

He was given a detailed briefing by Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho and Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) in charge Irshad Sodhar.

`Every missed child is a potential case.

Polio won`t be eliminated through routineefforts; it requires urgent, targeted and collective action. We must ensure that no child in Sindh remains unprotected,` said the chief minister.

Dr Pechuho informed the CM that 10 polio caseshadbeenreportedinthe countrysofar this year, including four from Sindh.

Additionally, she pointed out, 11 out of 35 sewage samples collected between April 7 and April 24 tested positive, indicating continued circulation of the virus.

Under the new campaign set to begin from next week, she said, 157 doctors would be deployed to target 6,780 sick refusals ailing children who are being denied immunisation by their parents. Police would assist in reaching 2,524 chronic refusals, she said.

The CM stated that polio continued to threaten children`s lives. `We are taking all efforts, and convening provincial task force meetings regularly to send a clear and loud message to the entire administration to launch campaigns as a mission,` he said.

He directed the health department to activate the refusal conversion committees in the defaulting union committees (UCs), while emphasising that accountability at all levels was essential.

`The fight against polio is a fight for trust, equity, and access. We must work hand in hand with parents, ulema, teachers, and frontline workers to ensure every child is vaccinated-every time,` he said.

Week-long campaign from 26th According to officials, the upcoming cam-paign scheduled from May 26 to June 1 will target 10.6 million children under the age of five across 1,292 UCs in all 30 districts of Sindh.

The operation will be supported by over 80,000 trained frontline workers and 25,539 law enforcement personnel.

Children between six and 59 months will also receive Vitamin A supplements to boost their immunity.

The attendees included Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, Health Secretary Rehan Baloch, WHO official Dr Salah Haithami, EOC in charge Sodhar, Javed Jagirani and representatives from partner organisations.

`World`s largest cardiac hospital` At another meeting, the CM reviewed the progress of the Sindh Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (SICVD) and steps to expand cardiac care network in the province, which included under-construction `world`s largest cardiac hospital` the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases.

The state-of-the-art cardio care facility under the SICVD, stretching over 40 acres in Landhinear mainKorangiRoad,willfeature 1,200 beds, five state-of-the-art operating theatres, four Cath labs and a hybrid lab, modern CT & MRI services, comprehensive paediatric cardiac care, a dedicated research centre and nursing school.

The CM said that the project was a monumental step towards transforming Pakistan into a regional leader in cardiac healthcare and medical research.

According to a press statement issued from the CM House, the SICVD network has grown into one of the largest cardiac care systems in Pakistan, operating 10 full-scale cardiac hospitals and 29 chest pain units across the province.