PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Minister for Health Shahram Khan Tarakai has directed thorough, transparent and fair investigation into the death of three children during the ongoing anti-measles campaign in the province.

This he said while chairing a meeting of the fact finding committee of technical experts formed to probe the measles vaccine issue here on Friday, according to a handout.

He also directed the officials to furnish a factual and accurate report in the shortest possible time so that the actual causes behind the death of children could be ascertained.

The minister also directed the committee to thoroughly look into different aspects, including the pre-campaign preparations of health department, the vaccine being used in the campaign, human and technical errors in administering the vaccine and the medical treatment provided to the children after reaction of the vaccine, and thus come up with a solid and comprehensive report based on actual findings.

Mr Tarakai said that it was of prime importance not only for him but also for his government to ascertain the root causes behind the loss of three innocent lives because, if the children had died due to the reaction of measles vaccine then those responsible for it would be taken to task.

Mr Tarakai said findings of the committee would be made public through media and nothing would be concealed in that regard.

The committee apprised the minister of the progress made so far in the case.

Besides secretary health Ghulam Qadir, chairman of the committee Professor Amin Jan, EPI provincial chief and member of the committee Dr Janbaz Afridi, its other members and WHO representatives attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, May 31th, 2014