The inauguration of the September SNIDs (Sub-National Immunization Days) for polio vaccination, took place today at the Rotary Club of Karachi Community Centre in Gulistan-e-Jauhar. The National Chair PolioPlus Committee Aziz Memon who is also a Past Trustee of The Rotary Foundation, together with EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) Focal Person, Dr. Ahmad Ali Shaikh, Shahzad Sabir, District Governor, Rotary District 3271, DGE Fahad Sikandar inaugurated the September SNIDs. Also attending the event was Humayun Qureshi, President Rotary Club of Karachi and several Rotarians.
The upcoming SNIDs scheduled from Sept 21 to 27, 2026 will target 31 million children in 115 polio high-risk districts across the country in areas of Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Sindh. These SNIDs will cover all children under the age of five years.
Three large scale nationwide campaigns have already been implemented since the beginning of the year covering 45 million children, where some targeted high-risk areas were administered OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine) with fIPV (fractional Injectable Polio Vaccine) to strengthen immunity in weak and malnourished children, who are quick to fall prey to the Polio virus.
Speaking on the occasion, Aziz Memon stated; “Polio eradication is a collective responsibility. Parents and caregivers play a crucial role by ensuring their children receive all the recommended doses, including routine immunizations. Rotarians facilitate polio frontline workers during campaigns, and play a significant role in monitoring NIDs/SNIDs in their districts, engaging with local community leaders, to promote polio vaccination and counter misinformation and myths.”
Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only 2 countries in the world where polio has not been eradicated. It is encouraging though that polio cases in Pakistan have significantly reduced over the years.
