IDP vaccination: Federal EPI team off to Peshawar
Talking to The Express Tribune, a federal EPI official requesting anonymity said that the team will discuss the health plan with their K-P counterparts to identify any gaps, while they will also provide any required technical and logistic support.
“It will provide all the guidance required for K-P to immunise children coming from North Waziristan Agency (NWA) against nine vaccine preventable diseases,” said the official.
The official said it is a critical time and slight negligence in vaccinating children against preventable diseases can cause massive outbreaks of polio, measles or other diseases.
The team will also visit IDP camps in Bannu and DI Khan to monitor the health of children in both.
“It is well-known that the immune systems of children from NWA are already weak and they need to be vaccinated against preventable diseases as soon as possible to secure other children around the country,” said the official.
The official further said that two suspected cases of measles have already been reported from Bannu, calling for urgent preventive measure to be taken in the area.
13 days anti-measles campaign in FATA
Talking to The Express Tribune, a Fata EPI official who wished not to be named claimed that mismanagement on behalf of the federal EPI led to failure to carry out 13-day measles supplemental immunisation activities (SIA) in the region.
“We were all set to launch the campaign, but at the eleventh hour, they refuse to provide vaccines to FATA. They could have informed us earlier, but they didn’t, and all our preparations were in vain,” said the official.
“If the campaign were carried out as planned, the government would not have to worry about disease outbreaks after the movement of IDPs”, said the official.
On the other hand, a senior federal EPI official said on the condition of anonymity that the federal EPI did not refuse to provide vaccines.
“Fata EPI officials were not fully-prepared to carry out the campaign, its staff was not properly trained to inject the measles vaccine. That is why they were asked to postpone it,” said the official.
After the death in Peshawar caused by an adverse effect following immunisation, the government cannot risk of sending untrained staff, said the official.
“Even now, the people who will administer the measles vaccine to IDPs will do so in the presence of a full medical team,” said the official.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 8th, 2014.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ