Shot in the arm for immunisation program:

Towards a healthier nation

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Various measures have been taken by the Health Ministry over the past few years to eradicate 10 major diseases including hepatitis, smallpox, measles and rubella from the country, Senior Epidemiologist of the Health Ministry, Dr. Sudath Peiris told the Sunday Observer on the National Immunisation Program (NIP).

Other diseases coming under the purview of the NIP are polio, whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus, he said.

On the eradication of dengue, Dr. Peiris said unlike most diseases, no proper medication has still been found in the world to combat dengue.

"There are no vaccines to cure dengue and it is up to the public to clean their surroundings and destroy mosquito breeding grounds," he said.

On the long history of the National Immunisation Program, Dr. Peiris said the country's first immunisation program commenced during the colonial era, in 1887.

The Rs. 450 million allocated by the Government every year to safeguard people from diseases such as rubella, smallpox, measles and polio will be increased in the future to make the National Immunisation Program (NIP) a success. - Dr. Sudath Peiris

"Since a large number of smallpox patients were reported from every part of the country, the British rulers of the day started the NIP to eliminate smallpox.

“The program was successful and the Government reactivated the NIP in 1943 to combat tuberculosis.

"Thereafter during the 1961-62 period, a large number of polio cases was reported from many parts of the country and the Government had to reactivate the NIP".

As a result the Health Department was able to combat the polio menace to a great extent by spending a colossal sum of money.

Dr. Peiris said the NIP was given a facelift in 1978 and another program was introduced under the theme Expanded Program of Immunisation (EPI) with the objective of eliminating these diseases.

During this period, the Health Department wanted to expand the immunisation program to every nook and corner of the country. As a result, the Department established new hospitals and MOH offices.

MOH offices

During this time, the Department also sought the assistance of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to strengthen the immunisation program.

During the 1980s the Health Department set up over 300 MOH offices in urban, remote and rural areas to treat people suffering from measles, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis, smallpox and a few other diseases.

On the current position of these diseases, Dr. Peiris said with the provision of adequate facilities by the Health Ministry and the MOH offices, the spread of these diseases has been minimised to a great extent.

He said these diseases cannot be eliminated by vaccines alone and the improvement of health facilities is also necessary. Therefore, the Health Department's main objective is to establish more health care centres islandwide and provide vaccines to needy people.

"We have also planned to construct more buildings at existing hospitals, provide sophisticated medical equipment and refrigerators to store vaccines," Dr. Peiris said.

He said it is also necessary to develop transport services in hospitals and the Department has already fulfilled that objective.

Dr. Peiris said vaccines are freely available in hospitals and the authorities have launched special programs to prevent drug shortages.

"We import vaccines after calling for tenders through proper procedures. We import these vaccines mainly from India, Belgium, Japan, Korea, Thailand, USA and UK.

Adequate stocks

Dr. Peiris said no one can complain about the non-availability of vaccines in hospitals as the Government has imported adequate stocks of vaccines to help patients.

On the Schools’ Immunisation program, Dr. Peiris said priority is always given to school programs and last year too many health camps were conducted in schools.

"We provide children with vaccines after a thorough medical check-up conducted by specially appointed doctors," he said.

About the publicity given to the health sector by the media, Dr. Peiris said the media have to play a vital role to educate people, especially the younger generation about the danger posed by these diseases.

Dr. Peiris said the WHO and UNICEF have provided assistance to carry out publicity programs.

Dr. Peiris said due to the success of the islandwide immunisation program, the Health Department was able to bring down the number of patients suffering from these diseases by more than 80 percent. He said the ratio of deaths too had drastically reduced.

Dr. Peiris advised people to protect themselves from these diseases by taking precautions.

"For example, some people are allergic to food such as mangoes, tomatoes or tuna fish. Some people are allergic even to paracetamol".

He, therefore, requested people to be careful of what they consume without making themselves vulnerable to these diseases.