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Advertisement - QUETTA, Nov 04 (APP):Provincial Coordinator of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Balochistan, Dr. Aftab Kakar, has announced that a 12-day nationwide Measles and Rubella vaccination drive will be launched from November 17 to 29 across all 36 districts of Balochistan, in line with the rest of the country. He urged parents to ensure that children aged between six months and under five years receive the vaccine to strengthen their immunity and protect them from these life-threatening diseases. Dr. Kakar revealed that around 1,700 measles cases have been reported in Balochistan so far this year, with 23 confirmed deaths. However, he noted that due to the lack of an effective data collection mechanism, the actual number of cases and fatalities is likely much higher. Speaking at a seminar held at the Quetta Press Club on Tuesday regarding the role of media in raising public awareness, Dr. Kakar said that community participation and responsible media coverage are vital to safeguarding children’s lives. He warned that measles is spreading rapidly across the country, including Balochistan, and is more contagious than COVID-19, as a single infected person can transmit it to 8–10 others. “The government has therefore launched this nationwide campaign to vaccinate children aged six months to five years against Measles and Rubella. Parents should bring their children to Basic Health Units, hospitals, and designated vaccination points,” he said. He explained that the disease severely affects children’s eyes, lungs, and chest, often leading to death. “This year alone, 1,700 cases were brought for treatment, with 23 reported deaths, though the true figures could be in the thousands,” he added. Dr. Kakar stressed that vaccination is the only way to build immunity and prevent infection. He further stated that vaccine refusal among parents — as seen during polio drives — was a major reason behind rising measles infections. He also emphasized the importance of access to clean drinking water to prevent diseases such as hepatitis, polio, and gastrointestinal infections. Deputy District Health Officer (DHO) Quetta, Dr. Shahid Babar, said that about 2,400 vaccination teams will take part in the campaign, which aims to immunise 2.2 million children across the province. “More than 800 vaccinators will administer injections that boost immunity, not through door-to-door visits but at schools, community centres, and local gathering places,” he said. He added that the disease affects children’s vision and cognitive abilities, and that 800 centres and 160 health units have been set up to facilitate the campaign. World Health Organization’s (WHO) Dr. Rahmat said that collective community responsibility and awareness are essential to protect children from Measles and Rubella. He noted that around 840,000 cases have been reported globally this year, and urged active participation from all segments of society to ensure the campaign’s success. “Our teams will reach children even in remote and hard-to-access areas of Balochistan,” Dr. Rahmat said, adding that health officials will monitor the drive to ensure no child is left unvaccinated. He appealed to parents to vaccinate their children to protect them from these deadly diseases.
