Outbreak in upper Sindh: Measles claims lives of 7 more preschoolers

210 children have died in the province over the last month after being afflicted, according to WHO.

NAWABSHAH/ SUKKUR:

Seven more children died of measles in interior Sindh on Tuesday, while more than two dozen were hospitalised after an epidemic hit the area.

Four-year-old Muhammad Ashid and his three-year-old sister Muskan died in Ghundio village near Sakrand, while three-year-old Ramsha died at Goth Lal Bux Brohi. Four-year-old Asifa Seelro in Khuda Bux Seelro, three-year-old Adil in Bagar Ji, two-year-old Shazia in Garam Godi and three-year-old Parhani in Maloi also died as a result of the outbreak.

According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report, 210 children have died in Sindh as a result of measles over the last month – although government functionaries are denying the contents of the report.

The measles outbreak started in the first week of December, after which reports of children’s deaths started pouring in, especially in Sukkur district’s Salehpat Taluka. More than 33 children have died in that area so far. Health authorities only sprung into action after Religious Affairs Minister Khursheed Shah visited the area on December 24 and squarely pinned the blame for the epidemic on their ‘criminal negligence’.



Sindh Health Minister Sagheer Ahmed earlier suspended five health officials after visiting the area.

Sukkur Health EDO Dr Jay Ram told The Express Tribune that an emergency vaccination campaign has been kicked off in districts of upper Sindh, including Sukkur, Shikarpur, Khairpur, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Larkana and Qamber-Shahdadkot. He said that 350,000 children between the ages of nine months and 10 years will be vaccinated in Sukkur district. Dr Ram added that as a result of an awareness campaign spearheaded by the health authorities and the media, people were now bringing their children to medical facilities for treatment and vaccination.

According to Dr Ram, five ambulances are being utilised to bring measles-stricken children from different areas of the province to the nearest health facility. He added that on Tuesday, 50 children were shifted to Red Crescent Hospital in Sukkur, 40 to Sukkur Civil Hospital and 10 to Sukkur Hospital.

The health EDO explained that measles is a disease that spreads rapidly, adding that the main cause of the virus’s spread is unhygienic, cramped living conditions in rural areas.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM PPI

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2013.