KARACHI, Jan 11: The Sindh health department has decided to launch a second round of anti-measles vaccination under a crash programme in the province in February, while a three-day sub-national immunisation campaign for polio eradication will commence on Jan 28 except Karachi where it will begin on Feb 4.

This was stated by Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmad at a meeting, which was attended among others by President’s special representative on polio Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, held on Friday.

The meeting was informed that about 2.9 million children between nine months to 10 years had already given supplementary measles vaccine under a crash programme in eight districts of Sindh since Dec 31, 2012.

The health minister observed that reporting of measles cases across the province in a big number indicated that rate of immunisation was not up to the mark. He asked the health executive district officers to increase the rate of routine immunisation coverage up to 95 per cent or face departmental action.

He said measles infection cases were still being reported in the province as about 1,539 children were affected due to the contagious disease between Jan 1 and Jan 10 in different districts, while 11 measles associated deaths were reported during this period.

The minister asked deputy commissioners to finalise arrangements for the movement of polio vaccinators for the next campaign with the consultation of respective Rangers commandants and ensure safety of workers at all cost. He said that the polio campaign in Karachi would be run from Feb 4 to 6.

The first round of measles vaccination drive had almost been completed in eight districts — Sukkur, Ghotki, Khairpur, Larkana, Kambar-Shahdadkot, Shikarpur, Jacobabad and Kashmore — while a measles mop-up and routine immunisation campaign had also been initiated in the remaining districts of the province.

Expressing her concern over the measles epidemic in the districts, Dr Pechuho said President Asif Ali Zardari had also taken notice of the deaths of children due to measles. She said there was a need to make the people’s primary health initiative more effective as far as routine immunisation of children was concerned, said a source privy to the meeting.

Sindh Health Secretary Aftab Khatri and World Health Organisation and Unicef representatives also attended the meeting.