Local, foreign bodies divert focus towards anti-measles campaign

EPI will be deploying staff trained in immunisation procedures

PESHAWAR: International and national non-government organizations, involved in the health sector, have reportedly diverted all their attention to the upcoming anti-measles campaign scheduled to be held later this month.

The aim of this collective effort is to make this campaign a success since thousands of cases of measles were being reported every year from across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

“There have been different programmes running in the province but what we have discovered is that now all the officials including those having been donating funds and providing logistic support for these health sector programmes, are likely to shift their focus towards this campaign, which suggests, this is going to be a successful drive,” said a senior K-P official dealing with health issues.

The official, who requested not to be named since he was not entitled to speak to media, stated that measles has emerged as a major challenge for the health department, adding that thousands of cases were reported annually.

“Vaccination is the only way to protect your children and I request parents to come forward and demand vaccine for their children,” stressed Expanded Program on Immunisation (EPI) Director Dr Akram Shah.

According to Dr Shah, there have been thousands of cases where many children have lost their lives, adding that in 2018 alone, around 10,500 cases of measles were reported with 23 deaths.

The immunisation agency, he said, has finalised preparations for the massive campaign across K-P which commences from October 15 and will continue until October 27 where kids between nine months and five years will be vaccinated.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2018.