Pakistan To Be Measles Free Country By 2020: Minister

Punjab Health Minister Professor Dr Yasmin Rashid has said that Pakistan wants to become measles free country by 2020.

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Oct, 2018 ) :Punjab Health Minister Professor Dr Yasmin Rashid has said that Pakistan wants to become measles free country by 2020.

She was addressing the inaugural ceremony of measles eradication drive at Children's Hospital, here on Monday.

Advisor to CM Punjab on Health Hanif Khan Pitafi, Dean Children Hospital Prof Masood Sadiq, MD Professor Saleem, DG Health Services Punjab Dr. Munir Ahmed, UNICEF Chief Field Office in Pakistan Mrs Bukhari, Dr Rana Mushtaq, Dr Qurtulain, Dr Tanvir Hussain, WHO Chief in Punjab Dr Jamshed, Representative of Gates Foundation Dr. Aslam Ch and representatives from Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunization GAVI were also present.

On this occasion, a minor girl was administrated anti-measles vaccine.

"Let me make clear that measles is not an ordinary but deadly disease. During 2016 alone, 87,000 children across the globe lost their lives due to measles," said the minister.

She emphasised that prevention was better than cure saying "We will have to spend 10 times more money on treatment if we do not care for prevention.

Unfortunately, Pakistan is listed among the countries where measles is still a danger," added Dr Yasmin Rashid.

"During anti-measles drive our Primary focus would be those 3,500,00 children who had been declared malnourished in recent survey," she vowed.

While seeking cooperation of people from all walks of life, she particularly pointed out the role of media in this regard.

About 11 million children would be injected anti-measles vaccine; injection would be administered to children who were 06 months to 7 years old, she said.

She also praised cooperation of international development partners like WHO, UNICEF, GAVI for anti measles drive and said that she was satisfied on arrangements made by DG Health Dr. Munir Ahmed.

Advisor to CM Punjab on Health Hanif Khan Pitafi in his address said that to save future of our children government efforts were not enough and every part of society should play their role.

He directed health officers and respective district administrations to continually keep spot checking of field teams during all days of anti measles campaign.