28 measles patients emerge in a week

Health department says all hospitals and basic health units have vaccines available.

LAHORE: After 28 measles cases emerged over the last one week, the provincial health department urged parents to get their children immunised against various diseases. It warned that the danger of an outbreak still looms large over Punjab.

According to sources, 28 cases were reported at different hospitals of the province. Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Director Dr Munir Ahmad said 174 measles patients have been reported from January till March across Punjab. No death occurred in any of these instances.

He said the EPI steering committee had advised the health department to cover high risk areas in the province through mop-up operations. He said according to the programme’s data, 1,008 measles cases were reported from Sindh, 279 from K-P and 94 from Balochistan.

“Vaccines are available at all hospitals, rural health centres (RHCs), basic health units (BHUs) and vaccination centres. Parents should get their children vaccinated against all 10 diseases covered by the programme from the nearest vaccination point,” the EPI director stressed.

“Sufficient stocks of measles vaccine are available and there are no budgetary or funding constraints.”

He further stated the government was fully committed to providing all required resources and ensuring complete control over all diseases. “The media should also play its due role in mobilising parents to comply with the vaccination schedule,” he remarked.

When contacted, the spokesman for the health department said there was no measles epidemic in the province. He said due to the seasonal risk, complete analysis was being carried out by following WHO-recommended protocols.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2017.