Sindh govt may block SIMs, CNICs of parents refusing polio vaccination

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah is mulling stern action against parents who refuse to get their children immunised against poliovirus.

Chairing a polio eradication meeting at the CM House, Sindh chief minister said he was also mulling blocking SIM cards, revoking national identity cards (CNICs), and passports of those who do not vaccinate their children, according to a statement released by the Chief Minister’s House.

“I have no choice but to punish individuals who refuse their national responsibility to eliminate polio, which begins in their own homes and extends to the rest of the province and nation,” he declared.

He added: “Such denial not only hurts their children but also infects other children with the virus.”

The Sindh CM ordered Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah to prepare for him a strategy to suspend SIMs, CNICs, and passports of such persons.

The Sindh chief minister also set up a Polio Vaccine Refusal Cell at CM House.

The cell will be furnished with union council-wise information of parents who are refusing to vaccinate their children so that they can be dealt with through social, political, and administrative ways.

Showing disappointment over the repeated reporting of new polio cases in the province, he instructed the health department and district governments to step up efforts to eradicate polio.

“Any official not demonstrating performance will no longer be part of his team. I have already removed some officers from the health department and administration,” he informed the meeting.

The Sindh CM noted that the majority of new cases of polio have been reported from the border areas of the districts.

He ordered that the upcoming polio immunization should also reach all nomadic families, including those of Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas Divisions.