Special anti-measles vaccination campaign is being launched from June 24

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Punjab government is taking all possible steps for providing best treatment facilities to the measles affected children and also protecting the children from measles. He said that special anti-measles vaccination campaign is being launched from June 24 in 12 districts for saving the children from measles. He said that measles campaign in six districts would be started from June 28. He said that Punjab government would provide all necessary funds for saving the children from measles. While expressing his serious annoyance for not purchasing vaccine on time, the Chief Minister directed that the vaccine for the vaccination of the children in remaining districts should be imported immediately by air according to the standard of WHO and the companies of good repute should also be contacted for this purpose. He said that life of every child is precious and we have to save the lives of innocent children. He said that the importers should also be contacted for the availability of anti-measles vaccine in the market. He said that the work should be done against measles on the pattern of anti-dengue campaign and a vigorous awareness campaign about the treatment and protection from measles should be launched through electronic and print media.

He was presiding over a high-level meeting for reviewing the arrangements of anti-dengue, eradication of measles and treatment facilities at Model Town today. Provincial Minister for Health Tahir Khalil Sindhu, former Special Assistant on Health Kh. Salman Rafique, Assembly Members Ch. Shahbaz Ahmed, Kh. Imran Nazir, Ramzan Siddique Bhatti, acting Inspector General Police, Secretaries of Labour, Planning & Development, Local Government and Environment Departments, Commissioner Lahore Division, DCO Lahore and experts attended the meeting. Secretary Health gave a briefing about anti-dengue arrangements, eradication of measles and treatment facilities.

Addressing the meeting, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that the Health Department will have to improve its performance and play effective role for protecting the people from epidemic diseases. He said that those officers who are not willing to work are not acceptable as he wants work and results only. Shahbaz Sharif warned that any negligence in this regard would not be tolerated. He said that the concerned officials should realize their responsibilities. The Chief Minister said that ministers, assembly members and officials of health department should visit the measles affected districts and hospitals and review the treatment facilities and protection from measles personally. He said that there is a force of more than 50 thousand lady health workers in Punjab and they should be imparted training of vaccination to the children. He said that digital monitoring plan should be evolved for the monitoring of field staff and emergency response committees should be activated again. The Chief Minister said that permanent sign boards should be installed on general places for creating awareness about viral diseases. He said that lectures should be arranged in community and the literatures based on preventive measures should be distributed among the citizens. He said that the services of Ulema should also be acquired for creating awareness against measles.

Shahbaz Sharif said that all arrangements should be complete for coping with any possible situation of dengue. He said that availability of medicines and the equipments in working condition should be ensured. He directed that concerned persons should work devotedly for identifying dengue larvae and its elimination. He warned that no negligence will be tolerated. Shahbaz Sharif directed that third-party audit of the availability of the medicines should be conducted. He directed that cabinet committee for eradication of dengue should be constituted immediately which should monitor all steps and its first meeting should be held in Faisalabad. He said that anti-dengue campaign should be continued like previous year and indoor and outdoor surveillance should be made effective. He directed that strict action should be taken against those not implementing the rules and regulations formulated for eradication of dengue.

Secretary Health told that all possible resources are being utilized for redaction of measles and providing best treatment facilities to the affected children. He said that vaccine would be administered to more than one crore sixty lakh children aging from six months to ten years during vaccination campaign and they would also be administered dose of Vitamin-A. He told that a comprehensive plan has been evolved for improving primary healthcare. He said that health department is fully prepared to cope with any possible virus of dengue. He disclosed that centers and isolation wards have been set up at District and Tehsil Headquarters hospitals for the treatment of dengue. He said that dengue situation is totally under control and the number of measles patients has decreased in provincial metropolis.