PESHAWAR: The health department is establishing committees at provincial, district and union council level under the paediatricians for oversight and management of the upcoming measles campaign to safeguard people against the vaccine-preventable disease.

According to a statement, directives in this regard were issued by Health Secretary Abid Majeed while chairing a meeting here on Tuesday.

Also in the day, the health secretary launched evening physical therapy services at Khyber Teaching Hospital to facilitate the people visiting doctors at the institution-based practice as well as outpatients department.

Campaign to be launched on Oct 15 in the entire province

The campaign against measles will be launched on October 15 throughout the province in view of the growing incidence of the disease.

The meeting held at the health secretariat to review preparations for the campaign was also attended by Director General Health Services Dr Ayub Rose, Expanded Programme on Immunisation Director Dr Akram Shah, acting coordinator of Emergency Operation Centre Atif Rehman, Technical Focal Person of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Dr Imtiaz Ali Shah and others.

Mr Majeed stressed the need for effective communication and social mobilisation activities prior to the launch of the mega healthcare intervention in the province to create awareness among parents about the disease.

He also stressed the need for training of staff, availability of logistics, vaccines and referral system for the children so that robust and effective system was in place in case of any adverse effects following the immunisation.

Earlier, Dr Akram shah informed the meeting about the anti-measles campaign. He said that children from nine months up to 59 months would be vaccinated in the campaign. He said that total target of the campaign was 4.3 million children.

Dr Ayub Rose said that campaign was planned in view of growing number of measles cases that were reported from almost all districts of the province. He said that special focus would be given to the training of staff and provision of quality vaccine for the drive.

In a separate function, the health secretary appreciated KTH administration for provision of the best medical services to the people at the IBP and urged other hospitals to follow the suit.

He said that government was taking all measures to promote physical therapy services and reduce disabilities among the population.

Prof Roohul Muqim, the KTH medical director, on the occasion said that the hospital provided consultancy services at far lesser rates to the patients in IBP. He said that senior consultants charged only Rs600 fee from the patients along with investigative services on subsidised rates.

The director said that a total of 39,721 patients were facilitated through IBP at KTH and 4,365 different surgeries were conducted since February16, 2017.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2018