ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Federal Minister for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar has said that the federal government has decided to launch a nationwide anti-measles vaccination campaign in August 2018 with an aim to eliminate the viral diseases.
Talking to a Private News Channel on Wednesday, the minister said that sincere efforts are being made to eradicate measles virus from the Country by year 2020. She said that a plan of action will be finalized with mutual consultation of all provinces.
Saira Afzal said that measles is a preventable disease and the government will provide its vaccine free of charge at its vaccination centers across the Country during the campaign. She said that the federal government and the provincial governments have devised a plan to create awareness about the disease up to union council level.
The health minister also urged the parents to take their children to the nearest vaccination centers as soon as possible.
“The vaccine is a booster and it is the responsibility of parents to get their children vaccinated,” she said adding that every child up to the age of 10 years must be vaccinated.
“Even those children who were vaccinated a month ago should be vaccinated,” she advised.
Saira Afzal Tarar added that schools, mosques and other institutions must actively participate in the campaign. She said that health workers to visit each and every house to ensure the vaccination reached every child in the province during the campaign..
The minister claimed that immediately after outbreak of measles in Sindh and Punjab, the government started vaccinating the children in the districts. She said that the government is fully committed to provide all required resources and ensure complete control over all diseases.
The health minister said that war against measles has not yet finished completely and the struggle will continue till complete eradication of the disease.
“We should not be afraid of this disease but fight against it. We will ensure complete elimination of virus through the effective steps,” she said.
Saira Tarar said that the government has also done work for the polio on the war footing basis and achieved successes more than its expectations.
