ISLAMABAD, Dec 27 (APP): More than
112,000 people have been immunized so far as a part of the additional immunization
drive aimed at fortifying the defence of the earthquake affectees against
different diseases. It was informed in a meeting on Tuesday held to review
the medical relief and rehabilitation initiative with the Federal Health
Minister Muhammad Nasir Khan in the chair. This focused immunization drive
is in addition to the over 850,000 affectees immunized immediately after
the October 8 earthquake.
The minister said the Ministry of Health
had moved very fast after October, 8 to avert the spread of epidemics.
He said we are now carrying out an additional drive, which started since
December 19 targeting relief camps and going on with additional vaccines.
Special teams have been constituted to look at the general hygiene, sanitation,
assessment of risk of communicable diseases, quality of water used in the
camps. The teams are working round the clock in the affected areas and
over 15 camps are being covered every week in AJK, NWFP, Islamabad Capital
Territory, Chakwal and Fateh Jang.
The minister was informed that a large number of camps have been thoroughly assessed by the teams and the observation to improve the hygiene and water supply conditions were conveyed to the concerned authorities for immediate remedial measures. The meeting discussed at length the strategy for rehabilitation of the disabled persons. It was informed that a workshop of all stakeholders being organized by the National Institute for Handicapped, Ministry of Health and WHO is being held on the December, 29 to finalise recommendations for rehabilitation of amputees and those with spinal injuries.