BAHAWALPUR: Five more children were hospitalised as they fell ill allegedly after administration of the measles vaccine at village Tibbi Izzat of Ahmedpur East.

The tally of the affected children is now 13. Of them, according to the health officials, three children have died as opposed to the earlier reports of four deaths while seven are still hospitalised.

According to an official handout, district health authority chief executive officer (CEO) Dr Faiza Kanwal said five more children were admitted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital (THQ) Ahmedpur East and the Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur on Friday. She was also quoted as saying that three children out of total five children hospitalised yesterday had been discharged after their condition improved at the BVH while only two children were under treatment.

However, with the hospitalisation of five more children, the total number of hospitalised children is seven now.

Ms Kanwal said investigating teams from the office of the Director General Health Services had started probing the causes of the death of three children (not four as was mentioned in earlier story).

The health department has already set up a medical camp at Tibbi Izzat where a medical check-up of the children is being done by specialists who have also been provided with ample stocks of drugs.

On the other hand, Punjab Secretary for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Ali Jan visited village Tibbi Izzat and directed the investigating teams to fix the responsibility of the officials concerned. He issued directions for medical examination of the vaccinated children in the area.

Earlier, the secretary health, accompanied by Quaid-e-Azam Medical College (QAMC) Bahawalpur Principal Dr Sofia Farrukh of and BVH Medical Superintendent Dr Aamir Bokhari, visited the emergency ward to enquire after the health/condition of the hospitalised children.

Mr Jan assured the children’s parents of all possible help and medical assistance till complete recovery of the children. The secretary also inspected the BVH.

According to earlier reports, four children had died while as many others were hospitalised after they were injected with measles vaccines at village Tibbi Izzat.

Dawn learnt that the health officials had administered vaccines to 19 children on June 2 and 6. Of them, four died and the condition of another four was critical. They were shifted to the emergency ward of the Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH). The health CEO confirmed the death of only three children. The identity of the deceased children could not be confirmed.

SUMMER CAMP: The school education department launched summer camps at the government schools during summer vacation.

The inaugural function was addressed by South Punjab School Education Secretary Rana Muhammad Saleem, Commissioner Dr Ehtesham Anwar Mahar and others. In the summer camp, the students from Class I to Class III and from the age of five to nine years would be taught.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2023