QUETTA: Balochistan will launch a 12-day nationwide Measles and Rubella vaccination drive from November 17 to 29 across all 36 districts, Provincial Coordinator of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Dr. Aftab Kakar announced on Tuesday.
He urged parents to ensure children aged six months to under five years receive the vaccine to strengthen immunity and prevent life-threatening infections.
Dr. Kakar said about 1,700 measles cases and 23 deaths have been reported in Balochistan this year, warning that the actual figures may be higher due to poor data collection.
Speaking at a seminar at the Quetta Press Club, he said community participation and responsible media coverage are crucial to protect children’s lives.
He warned that measles is spreading rapidly across Pakistan and is more contagious than COVID-19. “One infected person can transmit the virus to eight to ten others,” he said, urging parents to visit Basic Health Units, hospitals, and designated vaccination points.
Dr. Kakar said the disease can damage children’s eyes, lungs, and chest, often proving fatal. He added that vaccine refusal — similar to polio campaigns — remains a major obstacle to eradication efforts.
He also stressed the need for clean drinking water to prevent other diseases such as hepatitis, polio, and gastrointestinal infections.
Deputy District Health Officer (DHO) Quetta, Dr. Shahid Babar, said 2,400 vaccination teams and more than 800 vaccinators will participate in the campaign, targeting 2.2 million children across the province.
He said teams will operate from schools, community centres, and public venues instead of door-to-door visits. About 800 centres and 160 health units have been set up to support the drive.
World Health Organization (WHO) representative Dr. Rahmat said global measles cases have reached 840,000 this year. He emphasized that community cooperation is key to success.
“Our teams will reach even remote and hard-to-access areas,” Dr. Rahmat said, adding that health officials will monitor the campaign to ensure no child is left unvaccinated.
In a related development, Balochistan, with an effective anti-polio drive, has so far reported no new polio cases in the province this year. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reported 19 cases, Sindh 9, and Punjab 1 case of polio this year.
