Infectious diseases: Emergency vaccination drive starts in Quetta

QUETTA:

The Balochistan government, aided by the World Health Organisation and Unicef, has launched an eight-day emergency vaccination campaign in Quetta against nine deadly childhood infectious diseases.

A recent health survey revealed that more than 80% of children in Balochistan are not vaccinated against diseases like tuberculosis, polio, pneumonia, hepatitis-B, meningitis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and measles.

Around 209 skilled vaccinators, 418 team assistants, 418 community mobilisers will participate in the campaign which will target 96,822 children of two to 23-month old in eight union councils of Quetta.

Around 209 vaccination sites have been designated for administering vaccines to children, among these temporary points will be set up at schools, houses of notables and private clinics, apart from permanent inoculation centres at the hospitals and Basic Health Units.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2014.