KARACHI:UCs told to ensure optimum coverage: Seminar on immunisation
KARACHI, April 30: City Nazim Mustafa Kamal has issued directives to all 178 union councils scattered across the city to ensure that none of the child in their respective jurisdiction is denied of vaccines administered under the Expanded Immunisation Programme as per schedule.
Speaking at the advocacy seminar for town nazims on ‘Strengthening Routine Immunisation’ jointly organised by city government and Unicef here on Sunday, the nazim said that the city government committed to the cause of quality public life embarked on a scheme to seek “Disease-free Karachi” by the end of the year 2007.
Expressing his satisfaction that Karachi was fast towards achieving the goal of polio-free city, he said that Karachiites must not be complacent and the citizens as well as their representatives would ensure that citizens were protected for good against all plausible diseases on sound footings.
“I am fully conscious of the fact that there is lack of confidence in public sector healthcare facilities, hence, I will also ensure that private hospitals and healthcare facilities will be invited to join the efforts,” he said.
Elaborating his stance, the nazim said that vaccines and other relevant logistics would be provided to the identified facilities, trusted and largely visited by the masses, so that easy public access to vaccines was ensured.
He also appreciated the health secretary who announced that EPI centres would be established at private hospitals and clinics across the province, after necessary scrutiny.
Mustafa Kamal also referred to a health committee constituted some four months back to keep vigilance on the working of healthcare facilities owned by the city government.
He said that the committee comprising people of strong repute had been given all powers, as allowed under the Sindh Local Government Ordinance to see that public benefit and interests were not compromised. This resulted in improved working of the city government hospitals, the nazim claimed.
The nazim took strong note of inadequate attendance of town nazims at the advocacy seminar. The event was attended by not more than two town nazims. Acknowledging the presence of Malir and Baldia Town Nazims, Mustafa Kamal announced special development funds worth Rs100 million each for the two towns respectively. Assuring that timely release of the fund will be ensured, he asked the nazims of Malir and Baldia towns to submit, on immediate basis, PC-I for development scheme in their respective towns.
The seminar, however, was attended by some councillors, officials associated with different city district and provincial government departments.
Sindh Health Secretary Prof Naushad Shaikh, EDO Health Dr Khalid Shaikh, Dr Asif Aslam of Unicef - Sindh, Dr Medhat Attia of the World Health Organisation, Sindh EPI Deputy Director Dr Mazhar Khamisani, took strong note of the fact that while polio immunisation coverage rate was up to the mark yet the overall picture in the context of routine coverage left much room for improvement.
Healthcare experts appreciating that no fresh case of polio has been identified in Karachi for the last 16 months stressed for across the board routine immunisation of all under-five children to prevent relapses.
They reminded that many countries, including Bangladesh and Yemen, declared “polio free” registered re-eruption of the disease due to poor routine immunisation programme. In this regard, they also referred to the recent mini-outbreak of measles in the city strengthening the fact that routine immunisation of all diseases, being covered under the EPI, ought to be optimum across the province and country, with no provision for left outs.
Speakers opined that the role of town nazims, councillors and all public representatives was crucial in attaining the target of disease-free city. Since they enjoyed confidence of people, they could easily sensitise people about the significance of routine immunisation as well as special immunisation campaigns, the experts observed.
Sindh EPI Deputy Director Dr Mazhar Khamisani, in his presentation, said that routine immunisation coverage rates against different diseases widely varied in different towns. This reflected lacunae, which ought to be addressed on urgent basis, he said mentioning that in certain instances town health officers have not owned the EPI Programme, while late supply of logistics, inadequate supply of vaccines, closure of several EPI centres have also emerged as major constraints.
Sindh Health Secretary Naushad Shaikh said that pragmatic approach was being adopted to address the situation and private sector was being actively involved in the routine immunisation programme so as no child or pregnant lady, required to be vaccinated against identified diseases, was left unattended.
He also referred to the steps being taken to improve the mobility of the health departments and allied units working under public sector.
“There is no room for complacency, as sincere and coordinated efforts are required at all levels to ensure that momentum gained through nil instance of polio is maintained and relapse prevented at all costs,” he commented.
Dr Asif Aslam of the Unicef referring to presentation made by Dr Khamisani said the wide gap in the routine BCG coverage in Karachi, coming to as low as 36 per cent in one town and as high as 92 per cent in another, coupled with similar scenario in case of other diseases too, enhanced urgency for a uniform approach and absolute political commitment in all towns for all diseases covered under the EPI.
The fact that last polio case reported from Karachi in November 2004 further added to the responsibility of concerned departments and agencies, he said mentioning that they needed to be more vigilant.—APP
