Immunisation: Anti-measles drive kicks off

CDA health directorate ran no public awareness campaign ahead of the drive.


Sehrish Wasif February 09, 2015
“I learnt from newspaper ads that an anti-measles drive was under way in Punjab last week, but I did not know about Islamabad,” said Mussarat Hanif, a housewife and resident of Sector G-10/2. PHOTO: ONLINE

ISLAMABAD: A measles vaccination drive kicked off in urban areas of the capital on Monday, targeting over 260,000 children between the ages of six months and 10 years.

City managers, however, ran no public awareness campaigns prior to starting the drive, and many parents said they were not aware of the vaccination campaign.

“I learnt from newspaper ads that an anti-measles drive was under way in Punjab last week, but I did not know about Islamabad,” said Mussarat Hanif, a housewife and resident of Sector G-10/2.

Mohammad Ashraf, a resident of Sector I-8/2, said that he got his three children vaccinated at Holy Family Hospital (HFH) in Rawalpindi after seeing a public awareness advertisement in a newspaper.

“I had no clue that a campaign was scheduled in the capital,” he said.

Rashida Amin, a resident of Margalla Town said, “I go to work at 8am and get home at 6pm. “How and where should I take my children for vaccination unless I know the exact dates of the drive.”

“City managers should run media campaigns like the Punjab government so that parents are aware,” she suggested.

A senior Capital Development Authority (CDA) official said the Health Services Directorate lacked funding and staff to arrange such a public awareness campaigns.

CDA Health Services Director Dr Hassan Urooj said, “A third party was given the responsibility to carry out the awareness drive, but they did not do it.”

He added that 89 per cent coverage was achieved on the first day.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2015.

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