Elimination of neonatal tetanus by 2010
By FOZIA AZAM February 13, 2009 ISLAMABAD-Considering neonatal tetanus, a major public health problem that contributes 25 percent of the infant mortality in Pakistan, a national campaign aimed at vaccinating 3.4 million women kicked off here on Thursday.
This is a critical campaign towards protecting the health and well being of mothers and their children said Federal Health Minister Mir Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani while speaking on the launching of the Mother and Neo-Natal Tetanus Prevention campaign here on Thursday.
He said, initially a pilot campaign will be launched in 6 districts of Punjab in an effort to reduce morbidity and mortality against neonatal tetanus, with the support of UNICEF and WHO.
The health minister opined that with support and commitment of the federal and provincial governments, religious and tribal leaders, women organizations, health workers, media, teachers and communities all women of childbearing age could be are reached during this campaign being held from 9-21 February.
He said the government remained committed to intensified focus on achieving the global immunization targets. This includes striving towards the global target of elimination of neo-natal tetanus by 2010 he added.
It is estimated that at least 30,000 new borns die annually from Neo-natal Tetanus in Pakistan. Through Tetanus vaccination, we have the ability, the opportunity and the responsibility to ensure more children reach their first birthday he further added.
He said evidence from other countries had shown that through immunization, neonatal deaths could be significantly reduced. Commitment to reducing deaths caused by neonatal tetanus by immunizing all women of child-bearing age was also a commitment to promoting child survival, he went on.
“Our efforts to reduce the burden of vaccine preventable diseases such as neonatal tetanus, measles and to promote child health will provide the basis for achieving other important health and development goals including the Millennium Development Goals” the Minister stated.
By improving immunization and intensifying efforts to reduce the burden of disease from neonatal tetanus, Pakistan stands an improved chance of achieving the MDGs he added. From this week, over 2600 field teams, including Lady Health Workers and other health workers will work to immunize nearly 3.4 million women of child bearing age in Lodhran, Pakpatan, Khanewal, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh and Rahim Yar Khan districts of Punjab.
The two-week campaign will target women of child bearing age in health facilities, schools and outreach centers throughout these six districts. This campaign will be scaled up and held later on throughout the country in an effort to prevent newborn deaths.
To a question he said, Ministry of Health had approved 15 to 48 percent increase in medicines prices and the increase only apply on hardship cases.
The minister said the government realized the importance of the health sector and therefore a comprehensive health policy was being formulated to prioritize the areas that remained neglected during past. He further said the draft policy would be shared with the heath committees of Senate and National Assembly to seek their input on its various aspects.