A spokesman for the primary and secondary health department has categorically stated that there is no measles epidemic in the province and that the primary and secondary health care departments are fully vigilant regarding the situation. Keeping in view the seasonal risk, a complete analysis was carried out by following the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended protocols. All necessary measures have been taken to ensure complete control over the disease and districts chief executive officers have been issued instructions. The spokesman further said that sufficient stocks of measles vaccine are available. There is no budgetary or funding constraint and the government is fully committed to providing all required resources and ensuring complete control over all diseases.
The spokesman informed that a meeting of the Provincial expanded program on immunisation (EPI) steering committee was held on Thursday, 20 April, to discuss the situation on measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases. The committee showed satisfaction on the EPI and measles surveillance and told that third party evaluated vaccination coverage has improved to 82% which is the highest among all provinces and that the incidence of new measles cases is under control.
The committee was chaired by Primary and Secondary Healthcare (P&SHC) Special Secretary Dr. Faisal Zahoor and was attended by leading paediatric professors including Professor Dr. Tariq Iqbal Bhutta, Professor Dr Sajjad Rafique, Professor Dr Tipu Sultan and Professor Dr Haroon Hameed. Representatives of WHO, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation also attended the meeting.
Punjab Director Health Services (DHS) EPI Dr Munir Ahmad explained that 174 measles cases have been reported from January till March 2017 in Punjab while according to National EPI, 1008 measles cases have been reported in Sindh, 279 in KPK and 94 in Balochistan. No death due to measles has been reported in Punjab. EPI Steering committee advised covering high-risk areas in the province by mop up operations.
Vaccines are available in all the hospitals, Rural Health Clinics (RHC), Basic Health Units (BHUs), and vaccination centres. EPI Director requested the parents to get their children vaccinated against all 10 diseases covered in the EPI program from the nearby vaccination points, free of cost. It was further highlighted that media should play a role in mobilising the parents to comply with vaccination schedule.
