Kiani visits health centers to monitor national measles drive

ISLAMABAD, Oct 23 (APP):Federal Minister for Health Aamer Mehmood Kiani Tuesday visited the health centers in the outskirts of federal capital to monitor the ongoing national measles campaign.
Talking to the media persons during visit, the minister highlighted the need of compliance by private schools to the national measles campaign to ensure optimum coverage.
He expressed his concern over delays in granting permission by the private school authorities for measles vaccination while underlining the requisite of coordination of all departments to run successful measles campaign.
He highlighted the magnitude of the two week long campaign targeting around 32.5 million children between ages of nine months to five years. He commended the government efforts as more than 50% of target has already been achieved by the frontline workers.
He reiterated the commitment of the federal government to upgrade health sector of the country.
“In line with the vision of the Prime Minister Imran Khan, our prime goal is to strengthen health and education sector to enhance human development index of the country”. He stressed upon the revamping of overall health sector in a bid to accelerate its service delivery.
Following the field visit, the minister visited the National Measles Control Room to monitor real time coverage of the Measles Campaign. National Program Manager Dr Syed Saqlain Ahmad Gilani briefed him on the procedure of real time data collection at the control room.
He said that data from across the country is submitted by provincial and district level teams through android app to the centralized National Control Room.
He said teams at the National Control Room analyze the data, identify issues and take immediate measures to address the challenges or mitigate the effects.
The minister appreciated the joint efforts of the officials of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), development partners, GAVI, UNICEF and WHO to extend their assistance in making apt arrangements for the measles campaign.