On World Polio Day, October 24, a large rally in Hyderabad district pushed the Polio Eradication agenda into public view as officials, vaccinators and community volunteers marched from Shahbaz Building to Post Master General Chowk. The mobilisation came amid renewed urgency after a reported polio case in the district and growing concerns about refusal cases that threaten coverage.
Deputy Commissioner Zain-ul-Abideen Memon led the event alongside District Health Officer Dr. Pir Ghulam Hussain, Assistant Commissioner City Babar Saleh Rahputo and Assistant Commissioner Latifabad Saud Ahmed. Participants carried banners and chanted slogans demanding a polio-free future, underlining the local commitment to end the crippling disease.
Memon told media the fight against polio is a shared responsibility that must involve every citizen, government department and community group. He noted that the province has recorded nine polio cases this year, with one case originating in Hyderabad district, and urged parents to ensure all eligible children receive oral polio vaccine drops as a matter of public duty.
The deputy commissioner highlighted vaccine hesitancy as a major hurdle, revealing that 421 refusal cases were recorded during the recent campaign in Hyderabad, with 345 still unresolved. To address this, the Government of Sindh is using a constituency-level strategy from the Chief Minister’s House, sharing refusal lists with Members of the National and Provincial Assemblies so elected representatives can engage directly with families to dispel myths and improve uptake.
Officials described parents who refuse vaccination as the greatest obstacle to the Polio Eradication effort and said resolving these cases will require coordinated work by health teams, local administration and civil society. The district administration pledged to keep mobilising resources and outreach until Hyderabad can be declared polio-free.
The rally served both as a public awareness push and a reminder that sustained local action is essential to meet the broader provincial goal of eliminating poliovirus. Authorities reiterated appeals for cooperation from communities, stressing that every vaccinated child brings the region closer to lasting protection against polio.
