Expanded Programme on Immunisation: Minister terms performance foul-up affair
Calls for putting in place a strong monitoring and evaluation system.
Calls for putting in place a strong monitoring and evaluation system.
ISLAMABAD:
The performance of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) is not at all satisfactory according to the Minister of State for Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar.
While chairing a meeting at the National Institute of Health (NIH) on Friday to review the progress on implementation of a plan of action on supplementary immunisation activities (SIAs) against measles, she said, “The immunisation programme is supposed to move forward in a well-planned manner at all levels. Although the EPI is functioning under critical conditions, the results are not encouraging as polio cases and measles outbreaks are still popping up and children are dying every now and then.”
She said that though glitches forced the smooth functioning of the EPI for years, it has failed to meet its routine immunisation coverage.
“The international donors have expressed concerns over the current status of low immunisation coverage despite the fact that Pakistan ran extensive campaigns across the country,” said Tarar. We have not been able to ensure above 95 per cent immunisation coverage to each and every child, she added.
She also expressed her concern over failure to identify gaps and remedial measures for improving immunisation coverage.
Tarrar suggested few steps to improve the immunisation coverage by putting in place a strong monitoring, evaluation, accountability system.
Meanwhile, talking to The Express Tribune, an official at the EPI said that it was unfortunate that a large number of measles cases and deaths have been reported from across the country in the last one year. He said that provincial health departments have made no concerted efforts to improve the routine immunisation coverage.
From January 1 to May 31, a total of 7,769 measles positive cases and around 290 deaths had been reported which is worrisome, said the official.
The highest measles cases (3,272) had been reported in Sindh followed by 2,803 in Punjab, 1,255 in K-P, 185 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 107 in Islamabad, 91 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 39 in Balochistan and 17 in the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas.
The official said that it was also a point of concern that Pakistan will not be able to launch the first phase of SIAs against measles, planned for June, owing to unavailability of funds. “This has put lives of millions of children at risk,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2013.
The performance of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) is not at all satisfactory according to the Minister of State for Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar.
While chairing a meeting at the National Institute of Health (NIH) on Friday to review the progress on implementation of a plan of action on supplementary immunisation activities (SIAs) against measles, she said, “The immunisation programme is supposed to move forward in a well-planned manner at all levels. Although the EPI is functioning under critical conditions, the results are not encouraging as polio cases and measles outbreaks are still popping up and children are dying every now and then.”
She said that though glitches forced the smooth functioning of the EPI for years, it has failed to meet its routine immunisation coverage.
“The international donors have expressed concerns over the current status of low immunisation coverage despite the fact that Pakistan ran extensive campaigns across the country,” said Tarar. We have not been able to ensure above 95 per cent immunisation coverage to each and every child, she added.
She also expressed her concern over failure to identify gaps and remedial measures for improving immunisation coverage.
Tarrar suggested few steps to improve the immunisation coverage by putting in place a strong monitoring, evaluation, accountability system.
Meanwhile, talking to The Express Tribune, an official at the EPI said that it was unfortunate that a large number of measles cases and deaths have been reported from across the country in the last one year. He said that provincial health departments have made no concerted efforts to improve the routine immunisation coverage.
From January 1 to May 31, a total of 7,769 measles positive cases and around 290 deaths had been reported which is worrisome, said the official.
The highest measles cases (3,272) had been reported in Sindh followed by 2,803 in Punjab, 1,255 in K-P, 185 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 107 in Islamabad, 91 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 39 in Balochistan and 17 in the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas.
The official said that it was also a point of concern that Pakistan will not be able to launch the first phase of SIAs against measles, planned for June, owing to unavailability of funds. “This has put lives of millions of children at risk,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2013.