Sindh implementing ‘concrete strategy’ against measles outbreaks

Sindh Health Secretary Rehan Iqbal Baloch chaired a high-level meeting on measles response with all the partner agencies, including the WHO, UNICEF, the BMGF, the IRD, VITAL, the TKF, the AKDN and Pathfinder.

Baloch issued directives assigning each organisation’s representatives to go into the field for monitoring and supportive supervision. A notification has also been issued to implement a concrete strategy across the province to deal with measles outbreaks.

The strategy devised against measles outbreaks includes conducting rapid vaccination campaigns, increasing surveillance and monitoring, ensuring the availability of trained staff and vaccines, and working in collaboration.

The government ordered starting a massive vaccination campaign to vaccinate all the eligible children. It also ordered making all efforts to strengthen the surveillance systems to identify any suspected cases of measles and to also track the spread of outbreaks to prevent them.

The administration directed all the district health officers (DHOs) to ensure adequate vaccine stocks, maintain the cold chain, and make skilled vaccinators available at all the facilities and outreach sites.

It also directed all the DHOs to collaborate and coordinate with stakeholders of the districts concerned to ensure liaison with the Provincial EPI office to keep them updated on the ground realities.

“The health department assures the public of its dedication to containing the outbreak, and ensuring the health and well-being of all citizens, and appreciates the role of the media in raising awareness of this collective responsibility for all stakeholders in Pakistan,” read the notification.