Measles outbreak: Over 100 children infected in Kalam
Medical teams dispatched to affected areas; non-vaccination termed main cause.
SWAT:
Over a hundred children have been infected with measles during the last two days in Kalam Tehsil, it has been learnt.
The disease is spreading fast as there are not enough health facilities or doctors in the area, Ahmadin Siddiqui, a local journalist and social activist, told The Express Tribune. Dozens of children are being brought to local hospitals daily and dispensers are performing the duties of doctors as an emergency measure, said Siddiqui. He said the reason for the outbreak, according to health experts, is that the children had not been administered the required vaccines to protect them against measles.
Locals have demanded of the government to provide better health facilities in the area and appoint a permanent doctor at Kalam’s central hospital.
Dr Mohammad Imran, who runs a private clinic in Kalam, said that vaccination campaigns by the government are “weak” in the area and parents don’t bother to get their children vaccinated against the disease.
He said the best way to protect children against measles is to administer them the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine after the age of one.
Given the present outbreak, he urged local parents to get their children between the ages of four to six vaccinated against the disease.
The central hospital in Kalam lacks the required health facilities and it is next to impossible for a majority of locals to go to hospitals in Mingora for vaccination, said Nazir Ahmad, a university student.
He stressed that the health department should establish permanent vaccination centres in Kalam and send mobile teams to remote villages to prevent further outbreaks.
Executive District Officer (EDO) Health Dr Khurshid said that medical teams have been dispatched to the affected areas which have so far administered vaccines to 88 children.
He said that after clubbing details of the vaccination drive being conducted in Kalam and Matiltan, where two children recently died of measles, the teams have so far visited 700 houses and vaccinated 273 children. Dr Khurshid said that locals are also being informed about preventive measures they should take to avoid spread of the disease.
The EDO said that a qualified doctor has been appointed in Kalam’s central hospital, adding that he will be taking charge of his duties soon.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 24th, 2012.
Over a hundred children have been infected with measles during the last two days in Kalam Tehsil, it has been learnt.
The disease is spreading fast as there are not enough health facilities or doctors in the area, Ahmadin Siddiqui, a local journalist and social activist, told The Express Tribune. Dozens of children are being brought to local hospitals daily and dispensers are performing the duties of doctors as an emergency measure, said Siddiqui. He said the reason for the outbreak, according to health experts, is that the children had not been administered the required vaccines to protect them against measles.
Locals have demanded of the government to provide better health facilities in the area and appoint a permanent doctor at Kalam’s central hospital.
Dr Mohammad Imran, who runs a private clinic in Kalam, said that vaccination campaigns by the government are “weak” in the area and parents don’t bother to get their children vaccinated against the disease.
He said the best way to protect children against measles is to administer them the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine after the age of one.
Given the present outbreak, he urged local parents to get their children between the ages of four to six vaccinated against the disease.
The central hospital in Kalam lacks the required health facilities and it is next to impossible for a majority of locals to go to hospitals in Mingora for vaccination, said Nazir Ahmad, a university student.
He stressed that the health department should establish permanent vaccination centres in Kalam and send mobile teams to remote villages to prevent further outbreaks.
Executive District Officer (EDO) Health Dr Khurshid said that medical teams have been dispatched to the affected areas which have so far administered vaccines to 88 children.
He said that after clubbing details of the vaccination drive being conducted in Kalam and Matiltan, where two children recently died of measles, the teams have so far visited 700 houses and vaccinated 273 children. Dr Khurshid said that locals are also being informed about preventive measures they should take to avoid spread of the disease.
The EDO said that a qualified doctor has been appointed in Kalam’s central hospital, adding that he will be taking charge of his duties soon.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 24th, 2012.