Immunisation: Ensure vaccine availability, says Shahbaz

Measles vaccination campaign begins from June 24.

LAHORE:

Taking notice of complaints of non-availability of vaccine at public hospitals, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed the Health Department to ensure its timely purchase and availability in all Punjab districts.

He was presiding over a meeting to review arrangements for the anti-dengue fever drive, the eradication of measles and the treatment facilities.

“Get vaccine delivered by air if required,” a press release issued on Wednesday quoted the CM as saying. He also asked health officials to follow the World Health Organisation standards in import and handling of vaccines. He also directed them to purchase vaccine from reputed companies.

“Every life is precious. We have to put in all our efforts to save children’s life.”

Sharif said that a third-party audit of the availability of medicines should be conducted. He reiterated his direction on dealing with the measles epidemic the way dengue fever was dealt with.

He stressed the need for a vigorous awareness campaign to inform people about prevention and treatment. The chief minister directed that an awareness campaign be launched on television as well as in print media.



Vaccination, awareness campaign

The anti-measles vaccination campaign in 12 districts will begin on June 24. In another six districts, it will be launched on June 28.

Sharif said the Health Department will have to improve its performance and play an effective role in protecting the people from the epidemic.

He said those unwilling to work were not acceptable.

“I want results,” he told the meeting.  He warned negligent officials of disciplinary actions.

He said all the ministers, members of the assembly and Health Department officials should visit families of the affected children to show them that the government was with them. He said the ministers and officials must also visit hospitals and review treatment facilities and meet patients and their families.

He said the 50,000 plus lady health workers in the Punjab should be trained to vaccinate children. He also directed the officials to evolve a digital monitoring plan. He said he wanted the emergency response committees to be activated immediately.

He said sign boards should be installed at prominent places. He also stressed for lectures and seminars at schools and colleges should be part of the awareness campaign. He said prayer leaders must be contacted to create awareness on prevention of disease during Friday sermons.

Don’t forget the dengue mosquito

The chief minister directed the district officials to ensure that medicines used for treatment of dengue fever were available at hospitals. He said fogging and spraying equipment must be in working order.

He said elimination of dengue mosquitoes was as big a challenge as controlling the measles epidemic and must be taken seriously.

He said the health and environment officials should work devotedly to identify dengue mosquito breeding sites.

He said a cabinet committee was being set up for the eradication of dengue mosquito and monitoring of preventive measures.

He said the first meeting of the committee should be held in Faisalabad as soon as possible.

Briefing

Health Secretary Hassan Iqbal said that all resources were being utilised for the eradiation of measles and dengue fever.

He said 16 million children between ages of six months and 10 years would be given anti measles vaccine. They would also be given vitamin-A capsules.

He said centres and isolation wards have been set up at all district and tehsil headquarters hospitals for treatment of dengue. He said that the dengue situation was under control and that the number of measles patients had declined in Lahore.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2013.