The entire Larkana district is facing a shortage of syringes used for the primary BCG vaccination of newborns since the last 20 days. District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. Khalilullah Shaikh has confirmed the problem.
These special syringes are always supplied from Islamabad to the rest of the country but the federal government authorities have not yet floated a tender in the newspapers for the same. As a result, TB prevention vaccinations for newborn babies in the Larkana district have suffered. It has more or less come to an end, which has exposed the tall claims of the government that has been talking about providing better services in health sector.
Chandka Medical College Hospital, Institute of Child Health, Deputy Medical Superintendent has also confirmed that since the last many days, no BCG vaccine has been given to newborn babies due to which it is feared that the babies may be infected with the dreaded Tuberculosis disease at any time during their life.
The sources further disclosed that women from more than 12 districts of upper Sindh, parts of Balochistan, and the lower part of Punjab, bring their newborns here to get treatment. Even women who give birth in the Shaikh Zayed Hospital for Women, Larkana, will be deprived of this vital vaccine.
The monthly target for the BCG vaccination in Larkana district is over 5,500 babies, which, too, is under serious threat and will not be met due to the dearth of the required syringes. The sources further said that on delivery at Islamabad, these syringes will be despatched to Karachi and then to the Sukkur and Larkana regions, which will further delay the supply.
DHO Larkana Khalilullah Shaikh explained that a high level meeting was held on Sunday in Sukkur in which the same issue was raised and the participating officers assured that the matter will be resolved within one or two weeks. He said he has already informed the higher health department authorities about the non-availability of the syringes but has so far been unable to secure the delivery.
Some parents are procuring these syringes from the open market to get their babies vaccinated. The affected parents have demanded that the concerned federal and provincial authorities take immediate action into this delay and ensure uninterrupted supply on top priority basis to save precious lives and sudden outburst of TB in future.
