ISLAMABAD, Nov 8: The Ministry of Health is appointing a full-time focal person to head a team dedicated to prevention and treatment of respiratory tract infections among children in the quake-hit areas.

The decision to this affect was taken at a meeting of the Earthquake Health Management Committee, which was presided over by Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan.

The risk of spread of respiratory tract infections among children in the affected areas is increasing with the onset of winter.

Health Secretary Syed Anwar Mahmood informed the meeting that guidelines for control of respiratory infections were being developed by the health ministry in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). In this regard, Cotrimaxezole and Amoxycilin drugs are being provided to the primary and secondary level hospitals set up in the affected areas.

Unicef Representative Omar Abdi told the meeting that the situation of drinking water in the affected areas was improving rapidly and quality water was available at tented villages, medical camps and in the field hospitals.

Unicef was also providing the tented villages with pit hole latrines to cope with the sanitation problems. This will significantly reduce the risk of spread of disease resulting from poor sanitation.

The meeting was informed that under a comprehensive vaccination plan, immunization against different diseases was in full swing.

Over 314,000 children have been immunized against measles to date, whereas vaccination of all the injured persons against tetanus is continuing besides immunization against typhoid and cholera.

WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Khalif Bile told the meeting that in view of the threat of diphtheria infection among children, guidelines for diphtheria serum use by health providers were being developed.