In tribal areas: Measles threat overstated, say FATA officials

They feel the WHO assessment of the disease’s spread is exaggerated.

ISLAMABAD:

As the World Health Organisation (WHO) expresses concern over a measles outbreak that surfaces in full swing – with deaths reported for 2012-2013 swelling to five times the number reported in the previous year  – officials in the tribal areas say the threat is exaggerated.

A total of 170 cases of children with measles have been reported to the health department of the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) secretariat from the Lower Orakzai Agency, 5 of whom died due to insufficient treatment at district hospitals in the area.

Anwar Khan, a resident of Sultan Zai, Lower Orakzai told The Express Tribune that, “Residents in most parts of the agency have no access to medical facilities and the political administration shows no interest in providing life saving drugs to us, leave alone the pills to prevent measles.”

Khan informed this correspondent that areas of the agency such as Kadda, Zira, Merazai, Dorankai, Darma, Kalaya, Panzary, Andkhel, Sarobi Gari, Hussainy Garhi, Mandai, Tharngai, Jabber, Kadola, and Char Bagh are facing difficulties due to military operation and the administration’s recklessness, adding that if the situation persisted, it would lead to a “horrible medical emergency” in Pakistan’s tribal region.



Even though the World Health Organisation has expressed concern over the outbreak in Pakistan’s tribal areas this year, Dr Aftab Akbar Durrani, secretary social sector of FATA, is of the view that the number of measles cases is far less than what is reported by the media and other health organisations. “FATA is not facing many measles cases; the number of cases is not that big which is being publicised through media.”

“We are providing vaccines to the affected areas and where the demand comes from. Still we have a bulk of vaccine with us at our social sector office in Peshawar.”

Similarly, the Additional Secretary of Orakzai and Kurram agencies have reported that several areas have been personally visited along with vaccination team and no such epidemic was noted, reported Dr Nazir Deputy Director Administration Health in FATA.

Since the beginning of the year, over 65 children have died from measles in Upper Dir alone. While hundreds more are suffering from Measles-Pneumonitis, a chronic form of measles turned into pneumonia. Many Pakistanis, especially in rural areas, view vaccination campaigns with suspicion as a western plot to sterilise Muslims. Measles is an extremely infectious disease spread by coughing and sneezing or personal contact. It causes a fever, cough and a rash all over the body.

Requesting anonymity, a WHO foreign official said though measles is a contagious childhood disease, it can be averted through immunisation. “Unfortunately Pakistan is one of fewest countries that pays less attention towards immunisation campaigns and corruption is one major cause behind decelerating the efforts to curb measles, polio and other plagues in the country,” he added.

The exact number of deaths and those infected with measles in FATA could not be learnt because of the lack of interest shown by the FATA secretariat officials “I don’t know how many children have died and how many are in critical condition as I am not present in my office right now,” said a FATA health director Dr Fawad.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2013.