March 07, 2008	Friday	Safar 28, 1429

RAWALPINDI, March 6: Aroused by the increasing cases of measles in the Punjab, the provincial health department is launching a Measles Eradication Campaign from March 17.

In the Rawalpindi district an estimated 1.5 million children would be vaccinated against the fatal disease during the two-week campaign.

Executive District Officer (Health), Dr Zafar Iqbal Gondal said the campaign was ordered after reports that on an average 58 children were dying of the disease in the province every day.

All children aged nine months to 13 years are to be vaccinated against measles free of cost during the campaign.

Infants will be vaccinated at local health and vaccination centres and children aged four years and above will be vaccinated at schools.

Children who had been sick with measles, or had already been vaccinated against the disease, too would be given the shot.

The District Health Department has finalised the schedule of visits to schools, and advised managements of schools to ensure full attendance on the day its team visit their institutions.

District officials reviewed the arrangements for the campaign on Thursday.

City District Nazim Raja Javed Akhlas urged them to adopt an effective strategy as vaccination was the only remedy to keep children safe and protected from the disease.

Dr Gondal told Dawn that 360 teams will conduct the campaign under 215 zonal supervisors of the level of medical officers drawn from different teaching hospitals.

Deputy District Health Officers will supervise the campaign at tehsil levels, while each team will consist of four persons, he said.

The district measles committee meeting held at EDO (Health) was attended by EDO Health Dr Zafar Iqbal Gondal, District Officer Health, Dr Khalid Randhawa, and officers from various departments including health, revenue, education, social welfare and population.