Preventable diseases: Six more measles cases reported in Rawalpindi

Doctors urge parents to take responsibility, immunise their children.

RAWALPINDI:

The menace of measles continues, as six more children from Rawalpindi district were admitted in Benazir Bhutto Hospital on Saturday, taking the total number of cases to 281.

However, Medical Superintendent Dr Asif Qadir Mir, told The Express Tribune that the situation is not very bad, as four or five cases were being reported daily, compared to more than eight-a-day just a few months back.

“The situation is under our control and the hospital administration is prepared to deal with any outbreak,” he said.

He said all arrangements have been finalised in line with provincial government directives.

The measles patients were identified as Hina, 10, Faryal, 9, Daaim, 8, Iqra, 8, Aiman, 6, and Faisal, 1.



The MS said the hospital has also launched an awareness drive to control the disease.

“The awareness drive has been proving fruitful as the number of new measles patients is reducing with each passing day,” he said.

Holy Family Hospital Spokesperson Dr Javed Hayat agreed that the situation is improving and cited timely action on the part of hospitals and doctors.

He also wanted parents to accept some responsibility for the disease outbreak, saying, “Parents are also responsible for the disease as they don’t complete the immunisation course, and then blame us if their children get sick.”



He further said that children should be given the first MMR vaccine dose at 12 to 15 months of age, while the second dose should be given four weeks later.

He said 281 cases of measles have been reported in the district since January. “Cases are being reported even in developed countries like England and Pakistan is no exception. However, a remarkable reduction is being witnessed in number of patients,” he said.

The health authorities have been unable to stem the disease as children in some areas have not been vaccinated against the disease yet, especially in the Rawat area.

Parents of patients from the area complained that several cases have been reported, but the district health department sent no team to vaccinate children in their areas.

“It’s the third case reported from here, but a vaccination team has yet to show up,” said Ashfaq, the father of six-year-old Aiman and a resident of Rawat.

When contacted, District Health Officer Dr Khalid Randawa said he is on leave and cannot comment on the situation.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) had also issued a notice to Punjab government seeking its reply over measures being taken to curb measles outbreaks, which have claimed over 50 lives in Punjab since January.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2013.