Immunisation: every child’s birth right
Progress in polio eradication has been a result of intensive and quality vaccination campaigns driven by government
The writer is an advisory council member of the Asia Pacific Pediatric Association; Member NITAG POLIO, Pakistan. He can be reached atiqbalmemon.prof@gmail.com
The World Immunisation Week is celebrated every year in the last week of April to refocus public attention on the importance of vaccination for all — particularly those who are consistently excluded.
This year’s theme “Vaccines Work” calls us to reflect on the figures that tell us hard facts about vaccine successes, progress and opportunities to improve vaccination coverage to save lives.
Immunisation is one of the most successful and cost-effective health interventions that prevents up to 3 million deaths each year around the world. However, an additional 1.5 million deaths could be avoided if global vaccination coverage improves.
Low rate of routine immunisation prevails in Karachi's slums
Thanks to the power of the vaccine, smallpox and congenital rubella syndrome were eliminated. In addition, the burden of neonatal tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B and meningitis are drastically reduced from most of the world, except where vaccine coverage is inadequate.
The success in polio eradication testifies to the efficacy of vaccines. The disease that results in spinal and respiratory paralysis, causing lifelong disability, death and does not have a cure is now near to extinction. With only three countries remaining endemic to polio —Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria, the vaccine has helped the world almost wipe out the virus from the planet.
One obvious benefit of the vaccine is reduction of disease and disability, and the impact this has on individuals. Different nations will benefit from the eradication of polio in different ways, but it is clear that all nations and all people will benefit. However, the full benefits of polio eradication cannot be achieved until polio is eradicated from every nation on earth.
Larkana has the lowest immunisation coverage in Sindh
In 1988, the 41st World Health Assembly adopted a resolution for the worldwide eradication of polio. It marked the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, spearheaded by national governments, WHO, Rotary International, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Unicef, and supported by key partners including the Gates Foundation.
The recent progress in polio eradication has been a result of intensive and quality vaccination campaigns driven by government commitment and support at every level with broad community acceptance of the polio vaccine. Consequently, the number of children paralysed by poliovirus has dropped from 306 in 2014 to 54 in 2015 to 20 in 2016, and only two so far in 2017.
For diseases to be reduced or eliminated, the coverage with vaccination should be extensive for all children under five years of age, thus leading to increased immunity against diseases.
No child should suffer from any disease that is easily preventable, but for this to happen the federal and provincial governments, communities, healthcare providers, parents, caregivers, the media and all other stakeholders must come together to make the country polio free and help reduce the burden of diseases and deaths due to vaccine preventable diseases.
5-day immunisation campaign starts today in Balochistan
Vaccines have the power not only to save, but also to transform, lives — giving children a chance to grow up healthy, go to school, and improve their life prospects. We must act today for our children and protect them against diseases for healthier tomorrow and stronger Pakistan.
All children in Pakistan, no matter where they live or what their circumstances are, have the right to survive and to thrive. Let us redouble our efforts at helping the health of our children and economy of the nation for the years ahead as we are inspired during the week 24th-30th April to avail of the power of vaccines and the knowledge that “VACCINES WORK”.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 29th, 2017.
This year’s theme “Vaccines Work” calls us to reflect on the figures that tell us hard facts about vaccine successes, progress and opportunities to improve vaccination coverage to save lives.
Immunisation is one of the most successful and cost-effective health interventions that prevents up to 3 million deaths each year around the world. However, an additional 1.5 million deaths could be avoided if global vaccination coverage improves.
Low rate of routine immunisation prevails in Karachi's slums
Thanks to the power of the vaccine, smallpox and congenital rubella syndrome were eliminated. In addition, the burden of neonatal tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B and meningitis are drastically reduced from most of the world, except where vaccine coverage is inadequate.
The success in polio eradication testifies to the efficacy of vaccines. The disease that results in spinal and respiratory paralysis, causing lifelong disability, death and does not have a cure is now near to extinction. With only three countries remaining endemic to polio —Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria, the vaccine has helped the world almost wipe out the virus from the planet.
One obvious benefit of the vaccine is reduction of disease and disability, and the impact this has on individuals. Different nations will benefit from the eradication of polio in different ways, but it is clear that all nations and all people will benefit. However, the full benefits of polio eradication cannot be achieved until polio is eradicated from every nation on earth.
Larkana has the lowest immunisation coverage in Sindh
In 1988, the 41st World Health Assembly adopted a resolution for the worldwide eradication of polio. It marked the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, spearheaded by national governments, WHO, Rotary International, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Unicef, and supported by key partners including the Gates Foundation.
The recent progress in polio eradication has been a result of intensive and quality vaccination campaigns driven by government commitment and support at every level with broad community acceptance of the polio vaccine. Consequently, the number of children paralysed by poliovirus has dropped from 306 in 2014 to 54 in 2015 to 20 in 2016, and only two so far in 2017.
For diseases to be reduced or eliminated, the coverage with vaccination should be extensive for all children under five years of age, thus leading to increased immunity against diseases.
No child should suffer from any disease that is easily preventable, but for this to happen the federal and provincial governments, communities, healthcare providers, parents, caregivers, the media and all other stakeholders must come together to make the country polio free and help reduce the burden of diseases and deaths due to vaccine preventable diseases.
5-day immunisation campaign starts today in Balochistan
Vaccines have the power not only to save, but also to transform, lives — giving children a chance to grow up healthy, go to school, and improve their life prospects. We must act today for our children and protect them against diseases for healthier tomorrow and stronger Pakistan.
All children in Pakistan, no matter where they live or what their circumstances are, have the right to survive and to thrive. Let us redouble our efforts at helping the health of our children and economy of the nation for the years ahead as we are inspired during the week 24th-30th April to avail of the power of vaccines and the knowledge that “VACCINES WORK”.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 29th, 2017.