Funds at last: Anti-measles drive to begin late August

The federal Expanded Programme on Immunisation will provide vaccines for the campaign along with the necessary funding

ISLAMABAD:

After year-long delay due to the unavailability of funds, the health departments of the capital’s administration and civic agency  are set to launch 12-day measles supplemental immunisation activities (SIAs) targeting 250,000 children from six months to 10 years of age.

The anti-measles drive, which was supposed to be carried-out in June last year, will be launched at the end of August or in the first week of September, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and Capital Development Authority (CDA) health officials said.

Meanwhile, a surge in cases of adverse effects following immunisation (AEFI) across Peshawar and many more reported in other parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) during the SIAs has further cautioned health officials in Islamabad.

Additional measures are being taken while planning SIAs to avoid any such untoward situation in the federal capital.

The federal Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) will provide vaccines for the campaign along with the necessary funding.

CDA Health Services Director Dr Hassan Urooj told The Express Tribune that the capital had been divided in 10 zones for SIA.

“In each zone, fixed centres for measles vaccination will be set up in public schools, health facilities and clinics.

Public announcements will be made from mosques, while clerics and social mobilisers will go door-to-door to remind parents to get their children vaccinated against measles,” he said.

Dr Urooj said that the number of zones might be increased from 10 to 12 depending on availability of medical officers.

“We currently have a shortage of six medical officers. If we are able to overcome this shortage, the number of the zones will be increased,” he said.

Dr Urooj further said the major focus for the campaign was on training vaccinators.

“After the K-P incident, we have taken extra precautionary measures while training the vaccinators for the campaign. No one who has not been fully-trained will be allowed to vaccinate children,” he said.

The health services director said that there was a lot of difference between polio and measles vaccination. “Injecting the measles vaccine requires expertise, as even slight negligence can result in serious complications,” warned Dr Urooj.

According to the federal EPI, 19 positive cases of measles have been reported in the capital this year. Of these, 13 have been reported from urban areas and six from rural Islamabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2014.