Pakistan set to vaccinate 32m children against measles

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases ever known, says Measles and Rubella Initiative

ISLAMABAD:

As part of efforts to ensure good health among children, Pakistan is set to launch the largest measles-rubella campaign in the world to vaccinate 32 million children in the country that is expected next month.

According to Measles & Rubella Initiative (M&RI), measles is one of the most contagious diseases ever known and is an important cause of death and disability among young children worldwide. Rubella can cause severe birth defects, the initiative, which is a global partnership, said.

“Pakistan is set to launch the largest Measles-Rubella Campaign in the world to vaccinate 32 million children in the country,” the ministry of health said in a tweet on Monday.

The development was shared during a meeting of the National Inter-Agency Coordination Committee, which was presided over by SAPM on Health Faisal Sultan on Sunday. A high-level ‘International Measles Rubella Mission’ and global partners were in attendance.

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 The delegation, which was on a visit to Pakistan from October 11-15, had shared their feedback with senior health officials at the end of the week-long visit.

The primary agenda of the visit was to incorporate global wisdom on MR campaign preparation and implementation in Pakistan. The mission focus also remained on adequate human resources, especially female vaccinators, brainstorming to identify bottlenecks and suggest directions for all stakeholders especially in terms of MR campaign and Covid-19 vaccinations, schools and madrassas vaccination and out-of-school children.

 “It is high time for the global perspectives that we are getting one month prior to the campaign,” Sultan had said while lauding the MR mission visit to Pakistan.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)