Saving Children from Measles

By : Jawahir Habib

Measles is a highly-contagious viral infection. It spreads by contact with the infected person through coughing and sneezing. When in close contact one person infected with measles can communicate a disease to 90% of the people who don’t have immunity (i.e. without previous vaccination or previously contracted the disease). The disease can also lead to severe health complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, severe diarrhea and blindness

 Measles remains one of the leading causes of death among young children globally, despite of the availability of a safe and effective vaccine. According to WHO in 2008 an estimated 164 000 people died from measles– most of them children under the age of five

A child being immunized in IDP Camp Quetta

Measles in a major killer of children in emergencies.In complex emergencies infection rates increase as damage to infrastructure and health services interrupts routine immunization, and overcrowding in residential camps greatly increases the risk of infection. In developing countries, 1-5% of children with measles die from complications of the disease. This death rate may be as high as 25% among people who are displaced, malnourished and have poor access to health care.

Diarrhea, acute respiratory infections, measles malaria and malnutrition are the major killers of children in complex emergencies. Of these diseases, measles is the only condition against which an effective vaccine currently exists

UNICEF Balochistan along with its partners World Health Organization and Department of Health Balochistan is saving children all over the country from measles through immunization. UNICEF focuses its efforts on urgent, structured and coordinated supplementary immunization activities, together with vitamin A supplementation, to reduce measles mortality during and after the flood emergency.

All the children from 6 months to five year old are being immunized against measles in the flood affected districts of Balochistan i.e.Naseerabad,Jafferabad,Kohlu,Barkhan,Sibi and Bolan along with the camps established in other districts for IDPs as in Quetta. Vitamin A supplementation is also being provided to the same age group along with measles vaccination.

The immunization is being carried out at the health facilities and the health camps of the affected districts. Currently to date 05.09.2010 about 48 ,407 children have been immunized in the flood affected districts of Balochistan through efforts by UNICEF and its partners. Nearly 10,000 children have been vaccinated in Naseerabad which is one of the worst affected districts in Balochistan where nearly 127526 people have been affected.

UNICEF along with its partners is working for prevention of disease such as Measles and polio in children of the flood affected areas.

Current Situation : Floods Balochistan

By Jawahir Habib


The recent torrential rain and floods in Pakistan have resulted in devastation and destruction Nationwide. Flood has affected 672,171 people in Balochistan province only. About 75,261 houses have been damaged and it has left 45 people dead by the latest figures provided by NDMA.50 people from district Barkhan have gone missing and about 2584 villages have been hit by the floods in Balochistan.


The flood has affected districts Kohlu, Barkhan, Naseerabad, Jafarabad, Sibi, Bolan, Jhal Magsi, Zhob, Lorali, Killa Saifullah, Musakhail and  Harnai.Where the worst hit districts have been Naseerabad ,Jafferabad and Sibi.

The fresh flooding in Jafferabad has affected 300,000 people and leaving Gandhaka tehsil submereged.Almost 150,000 people of the affected population have moved to the neighboring Dera Murad Jamali (Naseerabad District) and 50,000 have moved to district Quetta ,Sibi and Bolan.


United Nations Children's fund is focusing it's efforts on Water and Sanitation,Health and Nutrition along with child protection and Education.


UNICEF Balochistan  is ensuring that the rights and needs of children and women of Balochistan to a safe water supply, sanitation and hygiene are addressed. And making sure that children and women in the affected districts are provided priority access to safe water in appropriate quality and quantity. Along with provision of safe clean water UNICEF focusing on Hygiene promotion through awareness promotion with the affected population.
 
UNICEF Balochistan is also focusing its efforts to re-establish disrupted essential care services for women and children, including the provision of essential drugs, diagnostics and supplies. Priority essential health services include:

·         Prevention, treatment and surveillance of diarrhea which a high impact on neonatal and child survival,
·         Provision of critical services such as maternal health services and Immunization for Measles, polio and Tetanus.
·         Dissemination of key health education and promotional messages and behaviour-change communication to affected populations, with a focus on available health services, home management, danger signs for common life-threatening conditions and universal health promotion and precautions (e.g., breastfeeding, health-seeking behaviour, safe motherhood, hand washing, hygiene and sanitation).


For nutrition UNICEF is putting all its efforts together with its partners to ensure that Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) is accessed by affected women and children in the five most affected districts.

UNICEF is providing services for management of Acute Malnutrition for children and women along with ensuring provision of High-Dose Vitamin A supplementation with vaccination for all children 6-59 months.Provision of micro-nutrient supplements to affected children and pregnant/lactating women.

Despite the efforts that UNICEF and partner organizations are putting together in Balochistan, however,there remains a vital requirement to increase there services as thousands of families are displaced and in need of clean water,Sanitation ,food and health and nutrition services .