Child birth, immunisation: EPI lacks system to maintain data
Census was last held in country in 1998 and since then data on children is mostly based on estimates and assumptions.
ISLAMABAD:
The national Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) lacks system to gather accurate data on new births as well as on children being vaccinated against the nine preventable diseases.
“Absence of accurate data on children is one of the main reasons behind low immunisation coverage across the country,” a senior official at the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC) said.
“Census was last held
in the country in 1998 and since then data on children is mostly based on estimates and assumptions,” he
told The Express Tribune on Tuesday, requesting not to be named.
The official said that it was estimated that 65 per cent births took place in homes which remain unregistered and those children do not get the essential dose of vaccines under the EPI programme at the time of birth.
“This [home births] is one of the prime reasons behind the low trend of birth registration in the country. A high number of children do not technically exist and do not get vaccinated,” said the official.
He suggested that a ‘micro-census’ needed to be conducted to collect data on new births and on the exact number of children under the age of five.
“Without having accurate data it is impossible to formulate a policy to address issues related to child mortality and low coverage of EPI,” said the official.
When contacted Dr Ejaz Khan, director surveillance at EPI said, they were soon going to launch an information system to gather accurate data on child births and immunisation coverage of nine preventable diseases.
Khan said that this would help the EPI to have data for future planning of activities to address issues pertaining to the coverage.
He said that currently only Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) had an information system, however, soon all other provinces would be taken onboard to launch information systems in their specific areas to improve EPI coverage.
Khan said that the information system would be later connected with the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), so that it would also have data on the new births.
Redesigned EPI card
He said that in 2015, EPI would also introduce redesigned cards which would contain two new categories, one each on inoculating dose of Hepatitis-B at the time of birth and on inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV).
“For the first time, the card will contain contact details of the vaccinators, so that parents can stay in touch with him or her in case of any emergency or to know anything about the programme,” Khan said.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 31st, 2014.
The national Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) lacks system to gather accurate data on new births as well as on children being vaccinated against the nine preventable diseases.
“Absence of accurate data on children is one of the main reasons behind low immunisation coverage across the country,” a senior official at the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC) said.
“Census was last held
in the country in 1998 and since then data on children is mostly based on estimates and assumptions,” he
told The Express Tribune on Tuesday, requesting not to be named.
The official said that it was estimated that 65 per cent births took place in homes which remain unregistered and those children do not get the essential dose of vaccines under the EPI programme at the time of birth.
“This [home births] is one of the prime reasons behind the low trend of birth registration in the country. A high number of children do not technically exist and do not get vaccinated,” said the official.
He suggested that a ‘micro-census’ needed to be conducted to collect data on new births and on the exact number of children under the age of five.
“Without having accurate data it is impossible to formulate a policy to address issues related to child mortality and low coverage of EPI,” said the official.
When contacted Dr Ejaz Khan, director surveillance at EPI said, they were soon going to launch an information system to gather accurate data on child births and immunisation coverage of nine preventable diseases.
Khan said that this would help the EPI to have data for future planning of activities to address issues pertaining to the coverage.
He said that currently only Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) had an information system, however, soon all other provinces would be taken onboard to launch information systems in their specific areas to improve EPI coverage.
Khan said that the information system would be later connected with the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), so that it would also have data on the new births.
Redesigned EPI card
He said that in 2015, EPI would also introduce redesigned cards which would contain two new categories, one each on inoculating dose of Hepatitis-B at the time of birth and on inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV).
“For the first time, the card will contain contact details of the vaccinators, so that parents can stay in touch with him or her in case of any emergency or to know anything about the programme,” Khan said.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 31st, 2014.