CM Bizenjo takes notice of death of 3 children during anti-rubella campaign
Sardar Muhammad Khondai, Syed Ali Shah :
CHAMAN/QUETTA: Chief Minister Balochistan, Abdul Quddus Bizenjo has taken the notice of death of 3 children during the anti-rubella and measles campaign in district Killa Abdullah. The CM has directed the formation of a committee to probe into the incident, an official handout issued here on Saturday said.
Mr. Bizenjo has directed the committee to submit a report within the next 24 hours. The father of one of the kids, Sher Ali claimed that the children died of measles and rubella vaccination. “I demand justice, my kids died of rubella and measles vaccine”, Mr. Ali told Quetta Voice via telephone.
The children were identified as three-year-old Gul Mina and Fatima. Mr. Ali claimed that three children have been hospitalized in civil hospital Quetta after the vaccination.
A well-placed source in the health department Killa Abdullah claimed, “the children died of measles”. He asserted the children were not even vaccinated. He requested anonymity since he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Vaccination was the reason behind the death of children: the father claims
However, officials contradicted the claims of the father and said vaccination was not the reason behind the death of children. “We have collected the samples of the children and sent them to Islamabad”, Dr. Ishaq Panezai, the Chief of Extended Program for Immunization (EPI) told Quetta Voice. He said the samples were sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad for the diagnosis.
The government of Balochistan had launched a 12-days long anti-rubella and measles campaign in Quetta and all districts of Balochistan on November 15. During the campaign, the health officials provided vaccination to children from nine months to 15 years. The campaign ended on Saturday, November 27 in the province, Mr. Panezai informed.
Killa Abdullah
District Killa Abdullah is considered to be the most sensitive district in Balochistan in terms of poliovirus. The district has reported a single poliovirus case during the year 2021. Emergency has been imposed in the district to wipe out the crippling virus.
