‘No measles epidemic in province’

LAHORE

Primary and Secondary Health Department has categorically said there is no measles epidemic in the province. 

According to a handout issued on Thursday, the spokesman of Department of Primary and Secondary Health Care claimed that the department is fully vigilant on the disease situation. Keeping in view seasonal risk complete analysis was carried out by following WHO recommended protocols.

All necessary measures have been taken to ensure complete control over the disease and districts CEOs have been issued instructions.

The spokesman said sufficient stocks of measles vaccine are available. There is no budgetary or funding constraint. The government is fully committed to provide all required resources and ensure complete control over all diseases.

The spokesman said a meeting of Provincial EPI steering committee was held on Thursday to discuss the measles and other vaccine preventable disease situation in the province.

The committee has shown satisfaction on the EPI & Measles surveillance and it was told that third party evaluated vaccination coverage has improved to 82pc which is highest among all provinces. Incidence of new measles cases is under control.

The committee was chaired by Special Secretary P&SHC 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, Unicef and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation attended the meeting. Dr Munir Ahmad DHS EPI Punjab explained that 174 measles cases have been reported from Jan-March 2017 in Punjab while according to National EPI, 1008 measles cases have been reported from Sindh, 279 in KPK and 94 from Balochistan. No death is reported in Punjab due to measles.

EPI Steering committee advised to cover high risk areas in the province by mop up operations.

Vaccines are available in all the hospitals, RHCs, BHUs, and vaccination centers.

EPI Director requested the parents to get their children vaccinated against all 10 diseases covered in the EPI programme from the nearby vaccination point free of cost.