PPAF launch campaign to prevent measles

Keeping in view the outbreak of measles and necessary preventive measures in the province, the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) is airing public service messages aimed at sensitising communities about the importance of immunisation, timely diagnosis and treatment of the disease from May 15.
A statement here on Tuesday said that these messages would be aired at eight different times of the day for a period of one month through FM-93 of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) in Sindhi and Thari languages.
It said that these messages have been developed in close coordination with health experts vis-a-vis taking on board partner organisations of PPAF working in the affected areas so that the communities could be provided necessary awareness about measles.
The statement pointed out that since its outbreak, measles had claimed the lives of many infants.
It further said that need of the time was to educate and aware communities, especially the poor, marginalised and illiterate to save their kids from this deadly disease.
It was expected that these radio messages would go a long way in educating the target communities and help decrease the chances of outbreak of measles in the future.
Furthermore, the statement pointed out that Pakistan was one of the top five countries in the world having the highest number of unvaccinated children, which was the root cause of all epidemics.
In order to supplement government’s efforts for community development, PPAF had focused on developing sustainable and self-functioning institutions for the poor that would enable average citizens to negotiate with the government and build trust and relationships at local and sector levels, while using PPAF’s platform for this coordinated effort.
Moreover, it said that PPAF was well-positioned to provide essential linkages between well-structured and well-functioning institutions for the poor, thus creating a network of knowledge transfer through its strong network of community institutions across the country.
The statement also pointed out that as the lead institution for grassroots development in the country, PPAF had worked through civil society partner organisations to focus on disadvantaged and marginalised sections of the country.
Adopting an integrated, multi-sector, community-led, demand-driven strategy, PPAF approach was to develop inclusive, representative, transparent and accountable institutions of the poor.
The catalytic role of women in programme design, delivery and impact was at the core of all interventions, it concluded.