(Karachi) The Sindh government on Thursday
sought the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) to meet the upcoming
challenges of vaccination for coronavirus prevention in the province and asked
it to assist the local authorities from procurement of the vaccines to their
storage and from cold-chain management to their distribution. The proposal to
the WHO was made by Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuho while inaugurating
the refurbished Expanded Program on Immunization centres; provision of six
vaccination vans, vehicles and other equipment to the EPI Sindh by the WHO. The
health minister said the support of a body like WHO was crucial to make the
Covid-19 vaccines available to people who could not afford it. ‘We should start
preparing a plan for the procurement, storage and distribution of Covid-19
vaccine so we can execute the best possible operation of vaccination in an
effective way;’ she said. ‘We need WHO’s assistance in its procurement, storage;
cold-chain management and distribution so that we could vaccinate our elderly
people; who have comorbidities {and} can’t afford it. We don’t want anyone to
be missed.’
World
health body donates six mobile vaccination vans to EPI for Karachi districts
The
ceremony was held at the EPI; where the WHO donated six mobile vaccination vans
to the EPI Sindh for each district of Karachi which would be used for routine
vaccination, provision of health and nutrition support services. The WHO also
donated several other vehicles for the monitoring activities, refurbished nine
vaccination centres in the city and provided a 500kV generator for
uninterrupted power supply to the EPI for maintaining cold chain for the
storage of important vaccines in the EPI program. ‘The communicable diseases
are really fatal among children under five years of age in Pakistan, including
Sindh; but with the help and support of the WHO; the provincial health
department and EPI program are striving to enhance vaccination coverage despite
Covid-19;’ added the health minister. WHO country representative and head of
mission to Pakistan Dr. Palitha Mahipala said he was impressed with the
improving health facilities in Sindh. He vowed to continue supporting the
people of Sindh dealing with disease outbreaks while providing them vaccination
and other health services.
by: mhmaamay - mhmamay
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