A full-scale vaccination campaign to protect children from Measles and Rubella will begin in Sukkur district from Monday, November 17.
Sidra Arif
A target to administer supplementary protective vaccines to 238,955 children has been set for the 12-day vaccination campaign across the district.
Deputy Commissioner Sukkur Nadir Shehzad Khan's appeal in his address at an advocacy seminar: Parents must get their children the free protective vaccine against Measles and Rubella during the campaign.
Sukkur The individuals who create doubts in the minds of others against protective vaccines or drops for preventing diseases in children are actually characters who can never be well-wishers of anyone. The public should be wary of such people and, by cooperating with the health department teams, must get their children the necessary protective vaccines and drops during every vaccination campaign. This was stated by Deputy Commissioner Sukkur Nadir Shehzad Khan in his speech in an advocacy seminar held at the Sukkur Arts Council Auditorium in connection with the national campaign for protection against diseases like Measles and Rubella, starting across the district from Monday, November, 17. The advocacy seminar was attended by District Health Officer Dr. Ali Gul Shah, Additional Deputy Commissioner-II Bushra Mansoor, WHO Consultants Dr. Zameer Phul and Dr. Mahmood Ali, Deputy DHO Dr. Tanveer Abbasi, Measles and Rubella Consultant Dr. Hammad Shamsi, Dr. Waqar Ali, Assistant Commissioners of relevant talukas, officers from the departments of Health, Education, PPHI, Local Government, Population, Social Welfare, and other departments, as well as representatives from Rotary, SRSO and other social organizations and civil society, Lady Health Workers, nurses, vaccinators, N-Stop in-charges, and others.
Addressing the advocacy seminar, Deputy Commissioner Sukkur Nadir Shehzad Khan further stated that the goal of the government and all of us is to make our cities, province, and country free from Polio, Measles, and Rubella. To achieve this goal, the responsibility lies not only with the staff of the health department but also with every citizen, every student, and every conscious member of society to create awareness among people around them in this regard, he added. He appealed to parents that during the 12-day national campaign running across the district from November, 17 to November, 29, they should get their children the free protective vaccine against Measles and Rubella from the nearest health center, temporarily established vaccination center, school, or any hospital, and also ensure their children up to 5 years of age receive the supplementary Polio drops.
In his address, District Health Officer Dr. Ali Gul Shah said that during the campaign, parents should cooperate with the health department teams, as they are coming for the protection of their children's health.
On this occasion, Measles and Rubella Consultant Dr. Hammad Shamsi, in his address, stated that all children aged from 6 months to 5 years, even if they have been vaccinated before, must get this supplementary vaccine this time as well. He informed that Measles is a dangerous disease that spreads from one child to another and affects children with weak immunity more severely. The doctor said that vaccination is the key to preventing Measles.
Deputy DHO Dr. Tanveer Abbasi informed that a target of 238,955 children has been set for the Measles and Rubella protective vaccines in Sukkur district. During the campaign, 197 outreach and mobile teams comprising vaccinators, nurses, Lady Health Workers, and technicians have been appointed. Besides 12 supervisors, 50 other first-level supervisors have also been appointed, he added. He stated that supporting teams would also participate in the campaign, and during this period, along with health department monitors, revenue staff would also accompany them.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Sukkur Bushra Mansoor, WHO Consultants Dr. Zameer Ali Phul, Dr. Mahmood Ali, and Dr. Waqar Ali, in their addresses at the awareness seminar, said that eradicating Polio, Measles, and Rubella is a national cause, for which every member of society is an ambassador for their home, their neighborhood, and their area's school. They stated that Measles and Rubella can cause pneumonia, cough, cold, flu, and severe weakness in children. Cases increase during the months of March and April, they said. Parents should secure their children's health and future by getting them the free vaccine during the upcoming camping.
