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Benefits of immunisation still not fully capitalised in Pakistan

By our correspondents
April 28, 2017

Islamabad

The benefits of vaccination are still not fully capitalised in Pakistan. There are more verbal messages highlighting the importance of immunisation, and less practical work in terms of strengthening equitable routine immunisation coverage to protect against vaccine-preventable diseases.

The world is celebrating World Immunisation Week from April 24 to 30 to promote the use of vaccines against vaccine-preventable diseases. The goal of the celebration is to raise awareness among communities, parliamentarians, partners, stakeholders, media and line departments about the critical importance of immunisation and its role in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

In 2016, under the global slogan ‘Close the immunisation gap,’ the campaign focused on immunization for all throughout life. This year’s slogan is ‘Vaccines Work.’

In Pakistan, World Immunization Week is being celebrated “to revive the pledge of making all children healthy by providing them with life saving vaccines against 10 vaccine preventable diseases. All partners, Paediatric Associations and civil society organizations working on immunisation, have joined hands with Federal and Provincial EPIs to arrange special programmes, seminars and workshops during the week,” informs a press release issued by the Ministry of Health Services. However, awareness raising is just one aspect of improved routine immunisation.

In statement to mark the occasion, Minister of State for Health Services Saira Afzal termed immunisation as a right of every child. “We are making efforts to protect children against ten life-threatening diseases for which vaccination is available free of cost in the routine immunisation schedule. However, it is a collective responsibility that demands collective action on part of all stakeholders,” she added.

Secretary Health Muhammad Ayub Sheikh said, the government has been working hard in the past few years to strengthen equitable coverage of routine immunisation and to mitigate the challenges of disparities among provinces. “Investment in cold chain, capacity building of healthcare providers, and involvement of Lady Health Workers in routine immunisation are some examples,” he said.

Director General Health Dr Assad Hafeez said, a strong immunisation system is an integral part of a well-functioning health system. Such events are an opportunity to re-in force the importance of immunisation. National Programme Manager Dr. Saqlain Gilani said, the programme is working relentlessly on improving the cold chain and supply chain management systems by introducing new technology and is thriving hard to address equity issues through expansion of immunisation services.