Pakistan

Immunisation woes: Shortage of funds, vaccinators hamper anti-measles drive

Finances have been received only for children aged nine months to five years.

Sehrish Wasif May 06, 2013

DHS had set an initial target of vaccinating 221,000 children aged nine months to 10 years against measles across Islamabad. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD:

The Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) Directorate of Health Services (DHS) is facing an acute shortage of funds and human resources needed to facilitate the immunisation of children between the ages of five and 10 against measles.

DHS had set an initial target of vaccinating 221,000 children aged nine months to 10 years against measles across Islamabad during a 15-day campaign, said an official source.

However, DHS has gotten approval for funds amounting to US$125,000 from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) to vaccinate only children aged nine months to five years.

“DHS needs around US$100,000 to immunise children aged five to 10 years but is struggling to find a provider,” said the source. To compound the problem, the DHS has a meagre 13 permanent vaccinators on duty, scarcely enough to successfully carry out the anti-measles drive.

“DHS requires 70 to 80 full-time vaccinators who can spend enough time in the field. To overcome the shortage, around 200 to 250 vaccinators have been hired on a voluntary basis,” said the source.

A major issue for vaccinators, each of which has been tasked with inoculating 200 children per day, is the lack of adequate transport. The motorbikes they currently have are mostly are non-functional.

“A lack of political commitment is the main reason for the shortage of funds and lack of personnel. Billions of rupees are being spent on election campaigns while millions of children are suffering from measles across the country,” said the source.

DHS Director Dr Hasan Urooj called on the administrations of the CDA, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Polyclinic Hospital to provide staff members to help cover the current shortage.

Urooj said the DHS had mobilised its available resources to help with measles cases as and when they were reported.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2013.