Anti-measles drive: Vaccination teams swing into action
Following 12 deaths since July 2012, healthcare professionals alerted in Mohmand Agency.
"The campaign will continue till all of the children are immunised,” says Khan. PHOTO: REUTERS / FILE
SHABQADAR:
More than six months after measles claimed 12 deaths in Mohmand Agency, the district health department launched an anti measles drive on Sunday.
The agency’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Coordinator Dr Shabir Khan told The Express Tribune that 32 mobile teams have been formed for vaccinating 4,325 children in Haleemzai Tehsil with a target of covering 14,285 children across the agency.
“The campaign will continue till all of the children are immunised,” he added. Khan further said that 12 children have so far died of measles since July 2012 but the number of cases gone up recently in the agency.
Charsadda District Coordinator Dr Farhad said that some cases had been reported in Shabqadar Tehsil. “We sent our EPI team for sending a proposal about initiating a campaign in the district, but the team reported several cases as most of the people going to private clinics,” he added.
The coordinator further said that the private doctors did not report any case, adding that the department did not carry out a mass campaign since 2010 floods in the district.
In July 2012, six children died after contracting measles in Ambar, while three others died in Haleemzai area of the agency last week.
The health department is regularly vaccinating children, however lack of health education, poverty, poor hygiene and polluted water are hampering the effectiveness of the vaccines and locals’ immune systems in general. The epidemic has also spread to Shabqadar and a large number of people are going to private clinics.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2013.
More than six months after measles claimed 12 deaths in Mohmand Agency, the district health department launched an anti measles drive on Sunday.
The agency’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Coordinator Dr Shabir Khan told The Express Tribune that 32 mobile teams have been formed for vaccinating 4,325 children in Haleemzai Tehsil with a target of covering 14,285 children across the agency.
“The campaign will continue till all of the children are immunised,” he added. Khan further said that 12 children have so far died of measles since July 2012 but the number of cases gone up recently in the agency.
Charsadda District Coordinator Dr Farhad said that some cases had been reported in Shabqadar Tehsil. “We sent our EPI team for sending a proposal about initiating a campaign in the district, but the team reported several cases as most of the people going to private clinics,” he added.
The coordinator further said that the private doctors did not report any case, adding that the department did not carry out a mass campaign since 2010 floods in the district.
In July 2012, six children died after contracting measles in Ambar, while three others died in Haleemzai area of the agency last week.
The health department is regularly vaccinating children, however lack of health education, poverty, poor hygiene and polluted water are hampering the effectiveness of the vaccines and locals’ immune systems in general. The epidemic has also spread to Shabqadar and a large number of people are going to private clinics.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2013.