HYDERABAD: An initial report on the deaths of over half a dozen children from measles related complications in a Tando Allahyar village recently has recommended putting in place a robust mechanism for the accountability of unwilling and absentee EPI staff, and strengthening surveillance system for reporting suspected cases in time.

The report prepared by a team of Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), which was reportedly submitted to Sindh government on Tuesday, called for ensuring proper case management of measles with complications to prevent deaths.

The team headed by Dr Sohail Raza Shaikh visited the Chandro Meo Rajput in union council Dhingano Bozdar where the deaths had occurred, and conducted detailed investigations.

The team concluded that the village was not included in equity-based micro plan of activity. There was no supervisory plan to monitor case response activity and updated defaulters list was not available at EPI centre while there were more than 100 defaulters in permanent registers of 2023 and 2024, it said, noting ‘poor hygienic condition of measles isolation ward’.

The report found out that tally sheet was not being used by vaccinators and urged that integrated case response activities be initiated in the affected union council and other neighbouring UCs without delay.

It suggested availability of updated defaulters (village wise) lists and their utilization in the field and advised proper planning for case response activities as per guidelines.

It recommended making measles isolation wards functional and ensuring availability of essential medicines and staff besides robust supervision activities.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad commissioner Ahsan Ali Qureshi visited the affected village and condoled death of children with bereaved family members, said a handout.

He said: “A doctor and three vaccinators who were found negligent have been suspended and are being investigated”.

The commissioner inspected measles ward in the civil hospital and gathered information about the facilities available at the healthcare facility. Affected children should be provided complete care and treatment, he said, warning negligence would not be tolerated.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2024