Killing measles

In focusing only on polio, officials have lost the plot on measles.

Not only is Pakistan failing to eradicate polio, it is also failing to effectively immunise against another childhood illness that can prove fatal — measles. The blame for this lies not at the feet of twisted ideology and fascistic radicals, but an inefficient process of disbursing funds and laggardly officials, who in focusing only on polio, have lost the plot on measles. There was supposed to be a measles immunisation drive in June but it was postponed to October allegedly for lack of funds. Yet, $4.1 million donated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency is still sitting, unreleased, somewhere in the offices of the Accountant General of Pakistan Revenues. There has been no explanation forthcoming about why this is the case.

In the year 2012-13, over 600 children have died needlessly from measles, an effective vaccine for which has been available for decades. There has been a surge in cases since 2011, when there were 4,380 suspected cases of which 2,533 were confirmed. This year, so far, there have been 33,314 suspected cases with 8,616 confirmed, a tripling of incidence in just two years. Measles is not a headline-grabber in the way polio is, which does not mean its eradication is any less vital. There is no vocal opposition to the measles vaccination campaign and no ‘cultural’ issue that would work against it. The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation has committed $35 million to the campaign with the expectation that the government would contribute the other $30 million — an almost paltry sum in the context of national budgets. An official of the Extended Programme on Immunisation has said that funding issues will be resolved ‘soon’ and that there will be a campaign in March 2014. It is no exaggeration to say that the lives of 62.5 million children aged between nine months and 10 years is at hazard. There must be a close re-examination of priorities if this disease is to be stopped in its tracks, and an end to muddled thinking and scandalous parsimony.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2013.

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