Daily Times

Sindh Minister for Health Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho has inaugurated the measles campaign in Sindh which will continue from October 15 to October 27, 2018.

The inauguration ceremony was held in a Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) dispensary in Gizri. The measles campaign in Sindh is part of the ‘National Measles Vaccination Campaign’ and will be conducted in all 29 districts of Sindh. The vaccination campaign will target 7.1 million (m) children from 9 months up to 5 years of age across the province.

“The measles campaign is coming at a time when it is needed. The measles epidemic has been claiming lives and the vaccination drive will help build immunity of children against this deadly disease,” said Dr Azra. “There have been 122 measles related deaths in Sindh since the beginning of the year and a total of 291 lab confirmed cases have come forward,” she explained. “These vaccinations will save lives,” added the health minister.

As per details, the measles vaccine will be available free of cost at public as well as private health facilities and outreach sites where parents will bring their children for vaccination. There will be 1523 fixed sites, 5633 teams at outreach sites, 87 mobile teams, 11760 social mobilizers, 1408 first level supervisors and 356 second level supervisors to ensure that the campaign is conducted smoothly.

“Despite several challenges, vaccines are saving more and more lives. The measles vaccine is safe and effective and has been approved and recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The same vaccine has been used worldwide for more than 60 years. Children are at risk without vaccination against measles. Parents in Sindh must vaccinate their children to save them from this deadly disease,” said Dr Pechuho.

Published in Daily Times, October 14^th 2018.