Measles vaccination campaign launched in Ghazni

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): Health officials in southern Ghazni say a measles vaccination campaign has been launched in the provincial capital and all districts of the province with the World Health Organization’s support.

Dr. Basir Ahmad Sabet, Director of Mass Immunization at the Ghazni Department of Public Health, said around 700,000 children aged nine months to ten years will be vaccinated during the 10-day campaign that got underway today (Sunday) in Ghazni city and 18 districts,.

He added that during the past month, five children lost their lives in the province due to this disease.

According to him: “Although the spread rate of this disease has decreased compared to before, in order to prevent its spread in the future, this vaccination campaign has been launched.”

Similarly, Dr. Hasan, the provincial representative of the WHO in Ghazni, said that in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health, a ten-day measles vaccination campaign has been started in the province.

He added that the vaccine will be administered by more than 2,000 health workers.

He said the number of measles cases had increased this year in Ghazni, and noted that in just one month, 1,500 patients infected with measles visited their health centers in Ghazni city and districts.

Meanwhile, health workers describe the disease as deadly and call on families to ensure their children receive the measles vaccine.

A health worker, Hikmat Diyan, told Pajhwok that measles is a contagious disease and affects many children. The disease is transmitted through air and breathing, or through sneezing, coughing, tears, and saliva of infected individuals.

He added that fever, cough, runny nose, skin rash, sore throat, and white spots in the mouth are symptoms of the disease.

He added: “Measles is dangerous. If left untreated, it can cause viral brain infection and worsen the patient’s condition, which may lead to death.”

sa/ma