Pindi gears up for measles-rubella drive

Initiative aims to protect children from highly contagious, potentially life-threatening diseases of measles, rubella

RAWALPINDI:

The District Health Authority (DHA), Rawalpindi, has completed preparations and set operational targets for the forthcoming Measles and Rubella Prevention and Control Campaign, a 12-day immunisation drive scheduled to commence on November 17.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the DHA, a total of 822,766 children aged between six months and five years will receive the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine during the campaign. The initiative aims to protect children from the highly contagious and potentially life-threatening diseases of measles and rubella.

This year's campaign will focus particularly on rural communities, where 189,087 children are targeted for vaccination. In all, 703 teams will take part in the operation, including 486 outreach teams conducting door-to-door immunisation as well as visits to schools and remote localities, covering 736,366 children.

Furthermore, 217 fixed teams will be deployed at health facilities and designated public sites to ensure convenient access for 86,400 children.

Altogether, 2,797 trained personnel have been mobilised, comprising 703 vaccinators, 703 team assistants, 212 field supervisors, and 1,189 social mobilisers.