Measles alert: EDOs told to start immunisation

700 children in Punjab infected with measles, one death in Gujranwala.

LAHORE:

Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique has directed EDOs (Health) of all districts to launch a campaign for the eradication of measles in the province.

He said that officers should improve surveillance for measles so that its complete eradication could be ensured.

Rafique was speaking at a meeting of EDOs (Health) of all districts to review the situation of measles in Punjab on Monday. Director General Health Punjab Dr Nisar Cheema, Director Health Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Dr Tanvir Hussain, medical superintendents of teaching hospitals of Lahore, representatives of WHO and UNICEF also attended the meeting.

Health Director General Dr Nisar Cheema said that due to the spread of measles in Sindh, strict vigilance was being ensured in the Punjab and a special mop-up campaign had been launched for protection from measles from children from the ages of six months to 10 years. He said more than 7,000 cases of measles had been reported in Sindh and more than 200 children had died. He said that 700 cases had been reported in the Punjab so far and one child had died due to measles in Gujranwala. The doctor said the measles vaccine was available in all districts. More than 1,500,000 doses of vaccine are available in stock and two million more doses are being imported, he added.

The health EDOs have been directed that vaccination to the children from the age of six months to 10 years should be carried out in all areas where five or more cases have been reported and a mop-up campaign should be launched. Rafique said that focal persons should be appointed in all teaching hospitals for reporting of measles cases and the data should be promptly sent to the Health Department.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2013.