Measles outbreak worries Ghor residents, physicians

FEROZKOH (Pajhwok): Measles infected tens of children in western Ghor province and teams of health officials have been tasked to probe the situation, an official said on Monday.

Ghor Public Health Department Director JummaGul Yaqoubi during an exclusive interview told Pajhwok Afghan News that from the past one month measles was on the rise among children.

He said tens of children were daily brought to health centres with measles, adding the surge in the disease was concerning.

He said facts and figures regarding the disease were being collected and would be shared with the media persons soon.

He, however, noted that most children contracted the disease in Shahrak, Dolina, Murghab and Firozkoh City.

According to Yaqoubi, different teams have been tasked to investigate what caused the surge in the viral disease and they visited different areas.

Acting Head of the Ghor Provincial Hospital also talked about the surge in cases of measles and termed it concerning.

“We are in difficult situation to deal with Coronavirus and measles, there is lack of human resources as we face logistic issues. We have many times shared the problem with the centre and currently we have 35 to 40 patients hospitalized,” he said.

Shahrak District Hospital Head Dr. HumayonFazal said daily 11 to 12 children contracted measles while in the past not more than two children with measles were brought to the hospital.

“Measles cases have not only surged in Shaharak but the disease is spreading to other parts of the province and this is of a huge concern for us,” he said.

Children Specialist Dr. Musa Olfat also termed the increase in measles cases as concerning and asked families to pay attention to their children regarding their health.

“Vaccine and other health measures are the only way to fight this deadly virus. Families should pay more attention in this regard,” he said.

Family members and parents of children contracting measles complained against low quality of health services and lack of medicines in hospitals.

Sardar Ahmad, a resident of Ferozkoh, said he purchased medicines from private medicine stores and there were no adequate beds in the hospital.

“From the past five days I have been with my two kids in the hospital where no medicine and beds are available,” he said.

Public health director said he had shared the problems with the Ministry of Public Health and asked them to resolve their problems.

Nh/ma

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