PESHAWAR, Jan 3: The NWFP health department has planned to carry out vaccination drive in the five quake-hit districts. “Keeping in view the winter and snowfall season in the quake- stricken areas, we have planned to ensure that the population living in camps get vaccinated against influenza. We have acquired enough quantity of the vaccines and a decision regarding launching the campaign would be taken soon,” said Dr Waheed Khan, deputy director of NWFP’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI).

According to him, they had already vaccinated the camp population, both children and adults in the affected districts against typhoid, meningitis, cholera, tetanus and diphtheria.

Citing a rapid assessment survey conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), he said that several international donor organisations have joined forces to carry out vaccination in the areas hit by earthquake on Oct 8.

The NWFP has a total vaccination coverage of 73 per cent, including the five quake-hit districts, he said, adding that they were making efforts to provide vaccine coverage to 100 per cent of the displaced population.

The earthquake, he said, had rendered displaced 60 per cent population in Mansehra, 20 per cent in Kohistan, 30 per cent in Shangla, 20 per cent in Abbottabad and 40 per cent in Battagram districts who required needed a special immunisation campaign to save the people from a host of vaccine preventable ailments, he said.

The Unicef, he said, had donated vaccines for the quake- hit areas.

Dr Khan said the displaced population lived in tents in overcrowded conditions which made them vulnerable to infectious and water-borne diseases. “We have also imparted training to the EPI workers to educate people regarding protective measures against diseases that occur after national calamities,” he said.

From now onwards, additional vaccines have also been included apart from the routine vaccination activities in these districts, he said. The Unicef, he said, had already vaccinated the people up to 15 years of age against measles, he added.

Health officials said that the Unicef had established its headquarter in Mansehra to ensure that children are protected against diseases.

He said that 80 per cent of the health facilities in the quake-ravaged areas have been destroyed and the Expanded Programme on Immunisation technicians had been posted in camps. Some additional staff had been hired from Haripur and other adjacent areas to vaccinate all the displaced population.

“We are constantly in touch with the ministry of health, Islamabad and international donors to protect the children against the diseases,” he said, adding that international aid agencies had donated 150 motorcycles for the EPI programme.

He also appreciated the Unicef for its logistic support and said that the UN child agency was playing a pivotal role in repairing of cold chain, training of staff and monitoring and evaluation activities concerning vaccination.

According to him, a special anti-polio vaccination had also been carried out in the five districts, whereas another three-day special round would start from Jan 24.