Kathmandu District Public Health Office (DPHO) today urged private schools and parents to give easy consent to vaccinate children against measles and rubella.

Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, chief of Kathmandu DPHO, said volunteers and health workers face problems while vaccinating children, especially in renowned big private schools.

“The school administration says they need to take the consent of parents for immunising children,” said Shrestha. He urged parents and schools not to doubt the government’s vaccination drive as the vaccine is internationally proven and is essential to protect children from measles and rubella.

He further added that health workers are engaged in making schools aware about the importance of the vaccine.

At present Kathmandu DPHO is conducting measles-rubella vaccination campaign from December 14 to 30 with the aim of reducing illness and death due to measles and rubella.

DPHO is conducting the campaign in wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 33 from December 14 to 19. It will vaccinate in wards 10 to 30 from December 20 to 25 and in wards 10, 31, 32, 34, and 35 from December 26 to 30.

The programme is being organised under the third phase of measles and rubella vaccination campaign. The office will vaccinate children of age group from nine months to 15 years targeting 658,000 children in all schools of Kathmandu.

DPHO has assigned 2,184 volunteers, 274 health workers and 126 supervisors for the campaign. Health workers will visit all the schools and booths will be set up at the urban health clinic and ward office.

source: The Himalayan Times,17 Dec 2012