KARACHl: In a compelling and urgent appeal, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has called upon all elected representatives to take active ownership of the polio eradication campaign and spearhead efforts to protect future generations from the crippling yet preventable disease.

In a letter addressed to lawmakers belonging to the treasury and opposition benches, the CM emphasised the urgent need for unified and intensified action ahead of the nationwide weeklong anti-polio campaign beginning today.

`Polio eradication is not merely a health priority; it is a moral imperative. The future of our children and the well-being of our communities depend on our collective resolve to rid our land of this crippling disease once and for all,` he stated.

The CM urged elected representatives to lead community engagement efforts, raise awareness and support comprehensive health initiatives to overcome these obstacles.

He highlighted that Pakistan remains one of the only two countries worldwide where wild poliovirus continues to be endemic.

Alarmingly, 74 cases of wild poliovirus were reported nationwide in 2024. Sindh, particularly Karachi and its northern districts, accounted for a substantial portion of these cases.

Despite ongoing immunisation campaigns, persistent challenges remain. Many children are still missing vaccinations due to parental refusals, limited access in remote or underserved areas, and unregistered births.

Major actions outlined by the CM included ensuring complete and accurate birth registrations to identify all eligible children, enforce rigorous routine immunisation schedules at all levels, addressing parental refusals through targeted community engagement and education, reaching missed children through innovative outreach methods, including mobile teams and local volunteers, and striving for 100 per cent immunisation coverage during every vaccination drive.-APP