EPI performance report: No report compiled, leaving future plans in doubt

Provinces were supposed to submit data to help federal EPI cell, donors plan next campaign.

ISLAMABAD:

The Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) cell has failed to collect data of a nationwide campaign in April across the country which was needed for a report to be shared with international donor agencies, stakeholders and other relevant departments.

The campaign began on April 24 during World Immunisation Week.

“All the provinces were supposed to share data on how many children were immunised or missed during the campaign with the federal EPI cell after the campaign ended, but none of them have shared anything so far,” said an official at the federal EPI cell on the condition of anonymity.

The official then explained that the K-P health department had shared some data, but even that was incomplete.

If the data had been shared and compiled, it would help analyse the current immunisation coverage level, with future plans to be based on the challenges occurring during the campaign, said the official.



The official said that soon after the end of the week, Unicef compiled a report on social mobilisation activities carried out during the week, such as the media campaign to create awareness among parents about getting their children vaccinated against nine diseases. However, the provincial health departments did not share how many children were vaccinated or were missed.

The official further claimed that in Sindh, no media campaign was run to create awareness among parents, while the health department of Azad Jammu and Kashmir was not even aware of the week or the campaign.

“This reflects the level of commitment to improving immunisation coverage in the country to prevent innocent lives from becoming victim of preventable diseases,” said the official.

During the launch event of the same campaign --- held at a five star hotel --- representatives of international and national organisations expressed concern over the immunisation coverage rate in Pakistan, which is reportedly below 65 per cent and is the cause of over 70,000 children’s deaths annually. Strong commitments were made to make the World Immunisation Week a success.

However when The Express Tribune tried to contact the EPI National Manager Dr Zahid Larik, he was unavailable for a comment.

National Health Services Regulations & Coordination Secretary Imtiaz Inayat Elahi told The Express Tribune that he was not aware of the issue and will look into it.

Meanwhile, another official in the ministry said that after the devolution of the Ministry of Health (MoH), the provincial health department were not supposed to share data with the federal EPI cell, however, if required, they can ask for it.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2013.