PESHAWAR:
Officials of the provincial health department have claimed a whopping Rs3.8 million as transport and duty allowance for participating in a two-day monitoring campaign, following a measles vaccination drive.
Officials privy to the matter told The Express Tribune on Friday that the monitoring programme was launched by the health department from June 9-10 after a province-wide measles vaccination drive concluded in May. However, the department’s employees who were part of the monitoring team reported a very high cost of the drive. “The staffers claimed Rs3.8 million from the health department. Interestingly, the amount was approved by former health director general Dr Abdul Waheed Shah on November 13, a few days before he retired,” said an insider.
Requesting anonymity, the official said the amount was listed as transport and duty allowance, but that too, for some staffers not even associated with the monitoring teams.
When contacted, former DG Shah told The Express Tribune the monitoring team had to travel to far-flung places across the province. He added he himself travelled to several districts for monitoring, however, he refused to comment on the matter any further. Health officials also said the accountant general’s office had raised objections over another bill of over Rs7.7 million and had engaged the anti-corruption department over bogus bills allegedly prepared during the measles vaccination campaign. An inquiry into this is under way.
Mired in controversy
On May 19, the provincial government launched a 12-day province-wide measles immunisation campaign with the financial help of international organisations. The aim was to vaccinate more than 9.5 million children to prevent a measles outbreak. However, concerns over the vaccine’s quality began to arise soon.
On May 19, around 25 students of Government Girls Primary School Dalan in Hangu district fainted after being injected with the measles vaccine. They were shifted to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Thal and discharged after first aid.
Similarly, on May 21, six students of a private school in Jangal Khel, Kohat also lost consciousness following the administration of the measles vaccine, while on May 24, over 50 students of a private school in Mingora had to be taken to the hospital after they fainted following vaccination.
Some deaths were also reported. On June 13, 17 senior and junior officials of the provincial health department were suspended after the committee investigating child fatalities found them to be negligent in their work.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 22nd, 2014.
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Paid for assisting in killing of innocent people in the name of measles vaccination campaign....what a country ? this kind of criminal acts will keep on taking place when there is no fear of accountability.....