Govt measles vaccination report draws ire of international health bodies

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Several international health organizations have rejected the government report on the countrywide measles vaccination project the Extended Program on Immunization (EPI).

According to sources, few weeks ago the government presented its report to the World Health Organization (WHO), USAID, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Global Fund. The government in this report claimed that between 60 and 70 percent children had been vaccinated against measles in the country, especially in the province of Sindh.

However, when a joint team – consisting of representatives of WHO, USAID, UNICEF and Global Fund – visited Pakistan it found the EPI report misguiding as the number of measles cases is on the rise in the country. The team later issued a report which claimed that only 20 to 30 percent of Pakistani children had been vaccinated against measles which is why the disease was on the rise.

Commenting on the situation, Inter Provincial Coordination (MIPC) Secretary for the Ministry Fareedullah Khan Afridi said that health had become a responsibility of provinces under the devolution of power through the 18th Amendment. He said the provinces were yet not completely ready to conduct vaccination campaigns as they lacked necessary facilities. “This is the reason that a large number of children were deprived of necessary vaccinations,” he added.

Afridi said that incorrect reports bring disgrace to the country in the international sphere. He said the MICP was supervising health departments in the country and it had found that only 20 to 30 percent of vaccinations had been utilized.

After affecting the province of Sindh, measles has now entered Lahore where on Monday at least 46 children were found affected with this disease.

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