Immunization saves 3 million lives every year: Dr Ghaffar Billo

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Immunization saves 3 million lives every year: Dr Ghaffar Billo

Macter

Vaccines are one of the public healths greatest successes and immunization is one of the most cost effective health interventions in existence, said Prof. Ghaffar Billo, Head of Pediatrics Department, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi while addressing the 9th session of the National CME Series at Liquat National Hospital (LNH) Auditorium. The series is being conducted under the Clinical Excellence and Leadership Program (CELP) of Macter International.

Prof. Billo, speaking on the occasion, stated that the use of vaccines had resulted in eradication of small pox, elimination of poliomyelitis from most of the industrialized countries, control of measles, diphtheria, rubella, Hib, tetanus and other disease in many parts of the world.

He was of the view that considerable progress in immunization had done much to prevent mortality in young children. Almost 3 million lives have been saved each year, and 750 000 children are saved from disability, he said.

 He informed that out of 130 million children born each year, almost 30 million children have no access to immunization. One in four children in the world remains without immunization against the six diseases i.e. measles, polio, pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus and tuberculosis.

Dr Billo highlighted the role of Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and informed that it was an international coalition of partners that included governments, international organizations such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank; philanthropic institutions, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Children’s Vaccine Program and the Rockefeller Foundation.

 He informed that vaccines for dengue, E.Coli, Group A Streptococcus, malaria, respiratory syncytial virus, SARS, Shigella and West Nile fever are expected to be licensed in 2010-2015. Informing about the anticipated immunization supportive technologies, he stated that Thermostable vaccines, Jet Injectors (needle-free delivery), vaccine aerosols, vaccine nasal sprays and vaccine patches are expected to be available by 2015

Dr Billo, emphasizing the importance of vaccination, termed vaccines as an essential right of every child irrespective of origin and socio-economic factors.

Dr. Sobia Qamar, in her presentation on diarrhea, stated that 15 percent deaths in children under five years of age were due to diarrhea and Rotavirus was the single most common organism which is responsible for 40 percent cases of diarrhea.

 Unconsciousness, convulsions, lethargy, vomiting and inability to drink or breastfeed are the danger signs in diarrhea, she informed.

Dr. Sobia advised that the food that should be given to the children in diarrhea include milk mixed with cereals, yogurt, vegetable oil and cereal based ORS; while lactose free milk should be used in persistent diarrhea.

 Dr. Sadia Tabassum, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology (LNH), speaking about common skin infection stated that these are acquired by close contact, sharing of clothes and shoes, handshake, swimming pools, soil, animals etc.

 Dr. Anila Haroon, Consultant Pediatrician, speaking at the occasion, stated that respiratory tract infections in children were one of the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries.

 Referring to a recent study published in Bulletin of World Health Organisation, she stated that Acute Respiratory tract Infections (ARIs) were responsible for almost 20 percent of all deaths in children under the age of five, worldwide.

2017-04-26T12:35:50+00:00