Daily Times

The Directorate General Health Services, Punjab, conducted its second Health Media Forum at DGHS, Lahore in which noted medical experts, representatives of UNICEF and WHO, officers of the department and leading media professionals discussed the importance of childhood vaccination, the issues and hindrances in enhancing vaccination coverage, social and religious taboos and myths and misconceptions were discussed.

While talking to the participants of the media forum, Dr Saeed Akhtar, Director Health Services, EPI Punjab appreciated the initiative of media forum and hoped that this platform would serve as a catalyst to disseminate the message to the target audience as well as the policy makers. Dr Saeed enumerated the diseases covered under EPI programme and highlighted the importance of timely administration of vaccination. He impressed upon the need of concerted efforts to fight VPDs.

Professor Dr Haroon of KEMU, while referring to the latest international best practices, shared with the participants that provision of clean drinking water and childhood vaccination is the best scientifically approved medical strategy across the globe. He emphasised on the media to play its role for increasing the demand generation.

He busted the common myths prevailing about vaccination and told the audience that there is no justification to quit or skip vaccination unless the kid was seriously ill. He told the participants that there was rigorous mechanism of quality checks was in place and the vaccines were absolutely safe with no serious side effects. He also stated that the need of vaccination increases in case the child is suffering from malnutrition.

Dr Quratul Ain of UNICEF asserted that prevention is better than cure. She clarified that best quality vaccines were being provided to the EPI which were 100% Halal containing no ingredients related to family planning. She pointed out that international-standard cold chain was in place starting from production to administration of vaccines to the children.

Dr Tahir Manzoor of UNICEF highlighted the importance of keeping the vaccination card in safe custody stating that the card would help parents remember the next date of vaccination besides the vaccination card was also the prerequisite for the children to get admissions in school. While answering the question, he responded that if a doze is skipped, the parent must get their kid vaccinated at the earliest.

Prof Dr Farah Yusuf, Head of Gynecology Department, Lady Aitchison Hospital Lahore impressed upon the need of vaccination of pregnant women against tetanus. She told the participants that MNT Vaccines was 100% safe and secure for mother and her kid.

The former DG health lamented that Pakistan was the only country along with Afghanistan that was suffering from Polio. Owing to which Pakistanis were facing problems regarding international traveling etc. He remarked that routine EPI programme was the most important instrument to eradicate polio from Pakistan.

Prof Dr Khalida, Head of Preventive Department, Children Hospital Lahore, Dr Javed, Head of WHO Punjab, Dr Tanveer Ahmed, former DGHS Punjab, Dr Shakeel of DGHS Punjab and Dr Imran Qureshi of the WHO also addressed the media forum and highlighted the importance of childhood vaccination.

While concluding the media forum Dr Haroon Jahangir, Director General Health Services Punjab thanked the participants for sharing their views on the subject topic and impressed upon the participants to play their role and communicate with the people to disseminate the message of childhood vaccination, highlight its importance and bust the myths and misconception about vaccination in the society.