Three children died on Friday from measles at Allied Hospital.
They were identified as Saddam Husain of Chiniot, Hasnain Raza of Chak 219-RB, Faisalabad; and Kishwar from Mandi Shah Jeewna in Jhang.
Medical Superintendent Dr Rashid Maqbool said that 17 children were being currently treated at the measles ward. Eight others had been shifted to the intensive care unit since Thursday.
He said the hospital management had arranged a separate ward for measles patients where doctors and paramedics were available round the clock.
EDO (Health) Abdur Rauf said that officials had been visiting hospitals regularly to ensure that the necessary measures had been taken.
He said an anti measles drive would begin on June 24 and would continue till July 4. He said 2.5 million children under 10 years of age would be immunised against measles.
He said 867 teams had been formed to go door to door between June 24 and June 30. From July 1, they would visit schools and give vaccine to the children there.
Protest against Health Department
Members of the Labour Qaumi Movement staged a demonstration to express their resentment at the government’s failure to control the epidemic.
The demonstrators rallied from the Faisalabad Press Club to the Zila Council Chowk, where they staged a sit-in.
Gulzar Ahmad, an LQM leader, said that the virus had turned into an epidemic due to the negligence of the government functionaries.
He said the health officials had been misleading the citizens by giving out false statistics. He said apart from 25 children under treatment at the Allied Hospital, 18 were currently admitted at the divisional headquarters hospital.
Leaders of Patan Development Organisation and District Governance Group also joined the protest.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 8th, 2013.