By Rafiullah Mandokhail
Zhob : Commissioner Zhob Division Tariq-ur-Rehman Baloch has said that routine immunization is crucial for the prevention of over ten diseases including crippling polio. For an effective vaccination program, the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) needs to be strengthened and vaccination coverage should be improved to meet the target of fully immunized children. Expanding awareness campaigns, and seminars should be organized every month to highlight the significance of vaccination.
He expressed these views while addressing an advocacy session organized by EPI in collaboration with UNICEF for community members, stakeholders, notables, and religious scholars.
The session was attended by the representatives of various non-governmental organizations including the World Health Organization, government officials, elected local body members, and journalist Rafiullah Mandokhail.
Briefing the participants on the importance of immunization, UNICEF Coordinator Zubair Sherani said that Pakistan is among the low-income countries, where routine immunization coverage stands at a dismal rate. Approximately, 17 percent of the children’s deaths – dying from vaccine-preventable diseases, can be prevented by increasing their routine vaccination coverage.
‘Routine vaccines save millions of children’s lives annually, particularly of those children who are suffering from low immunity. Vaccination is a safe and effective way to help them survive, thrive, and reach their full potential in life,” he reiterated UNICEF’s resolve to ‘vaccinate every child’ in Pakistan.
On the other hand, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Pakistan Dr Inoussa Kabore has recently said that Pakistan has reduced zero dose of immunization by 29 percent — from 611,000 to 431,000.
DHO Dr Muzafar Shah, Communication Officer UNICEF Nazir Mardazai, Team Leader Human Development Foundation Naeem Gul Mandokhail, and General Secretary Para Medical Staff Association Qasim Mandokhail also spoke on the occasion. The speakers asked the media persons to show some compassion for the health sector and marginalized communities, realizing their social responsibilities. They also urged the parents to get their children vaccinated against fatal diseases.
The diseases putting the lives of children at risk include childhood tuberculosis, polio, • Pneumonia, whooping cough, tetanus, meningitis, hepatitis B, diarrhea, pneumonia, typhoid, and measles.
