2,971 measles cases in Punjab since Dec 2012

Health officials claim the epidemic is receding.

LAHORE:

Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique said on Tuesday that 2,971 cases of measles have been reported in the province since December 2012.

He said that the government, was keeping a watchful eye on the measles situation and necessary arrangements had been made for controlling the disease as well as treatment of patients in hospitals. He said measles had started receding.

Rafique was addressing a press conference on the measles outbreak at the committee room of the Health Department on Tuesday.

Special Secretary Babar Hayat Tarar, Director General Health Dr Nisar Ahmad Cheema, Additional Secretary Health (Estt) Asfandyar Khan, UNICEF Provincial Chief Dr Rana Mushtaq and Director EPI Dr Tanvir Hussain were also present on the occasion.

Rafique said that guidelines had been given to all the hospitals and district offices of the Health Department for controlling measles and treatment of patients. He said that the meetings of steering committee comprising pediatricians were being held on a regular basis. He said action will be taken against any officer found guilty of negligence in controlling measles.

Dr Cheema said that MMR injections had not been approved by World Health Organisation (WHO) for Pakistan and as soon as the recommendation was made by the WHO the injection would be included in the EPI programme.

Rafique said that parents were being advised through print and electronic media. He added that lady health workers were approaching parents at the community level to ensure that their children were vaccinated. He said that children from the ages of six months to 10 years of age were being vaccinated under the mop up campaign in areas from where measles cases had been reported.

Khawaja Salman Rafique said that the government had done record development work in the health sector. He said that Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology constructed at a cost of Rs3 billion had started functioning and a 410-bed hospital built in Bahawalpur will start operating by February 11.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6^th, 2013.