Epidemic: 23,040 children given anti-measles vaccine

431 cases reported from Bahawalpur district since January.

BAHAWALPUR:

As many as 23,040 children have been vaccinated against measles since January under the district government’s mop-up programme. So far, 431 cases have been reported from Bahawalpur district.

Talking to The Express Tribune about the t arrangements made by Health Department, District Officer (Health) Saeed Asghar said that 30 beds had been reserved at the Bahawal Victoria Hospital, 10 at the Civil Hospital and four at every tehsil headquarters hospital. He said all public hospitals had been provided the medicines they would need.

He said that vaccination counters had been set up at these hospitals at easily accessible points.

Explaining the mop-up programme, Dr Asghar said that children in 40 houses adjacent to a house where a child was reported to have contracted measles were given anti-measles vaccine.

He said parents were also being educated about measles symptoms and what they should do in case their children showed these symptoms.

He said teachers were also being asked to create awareness among children.

He said District Coordination Officer Imran Sikandar Baloch had directed the officials concerned to make arrangements on “war footing”.

He urged parents not to believe in myths related to measles. He said it was a curable disease and that they must not visit quacks.

the DCO said parents must only consult registered practitioners to treat their children.

At a separate meeting, the district coordination officer ordered the departments concerned to ensure that no child was left unimmunised.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2013.