Campaign starting Monday: Get measles shots

MPA Amjad Mehmood urges religious scholars, community leaders to back vaccination drive

RAWALPINDI: Member Provincial Assembly Chaudary Amjad Mehmood has said that a healthy child was essential for a healthy society and this message should be conveyed to every nook and cranny of the district.

“Children should get measles vaccine injections,” he said at a seminar in connection with upcoming measles vaccination campaign starting from October 15, he urged the religious scholars, teachers and elected representatives to play their due role in the anti-measles campaign and motivate the people to ensure preventive measures for their children against diseases.

He also underlined the importance of holding such seminars in order to create community awareness about measles.

The seminar was organised by B-Malka Welfare society here at Kotha Kalan to create awareness regarding the importance of Measles vaccination for children.

In his address, Assistant Commissioner Iftikhar Sherazi said that a large number of infants were feared left without measles vaccine coverage, whereas in the case of those already vaccinated, the efficacy rate was not up to the mark.

He informed that 884 teams would go door to door under the campaign being launched from October 15, and administer anti-measles injection to 874,384 children from six months to seven years of age in all tehsils and union councils of the district.

He further said that 221 fixed centres, 208 medical officers, 1,768 mobilisers and 52 supervisors would be part of the drive in order to facilitate the citizens and serve them at their doorsteps.

Meanwhile Deputy District Health Officer Dr Zeeshan in his address said that staff deployed for the campaign has been issued special instructions and informed that no negligence in that regard would be tolerated.

He said that all possible steps had been taken by the Health Department to make the campaign a success.

Sufficient quantity of vaccine is available, and no stone will be left unturned in efforts to make the campaign the success."

He said continuous efforts were being made to control measles. Special teams had also been formed to cover areas from where the complaints about unattended children were registered, he said.

Among others, health officials, religious scholars, traders, paramedical staff and a large number of citizens attended the seminar.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2018.