LAHORE — Punjab is introducing a number new techology based interventions in Measles Rubella Campaign in November. New campaign MIS and android based reporting and monitoring apps have been introduced for accurate and timely reporting.
Punjab completed trainings of District Data Management Focal Persons for Measles Rubella Catch Up campaign 2021 in the province.
Islamabad hosted the second and last training workshops at a local hotel on Saturday. The Expanded Program on Immunization, Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Punjab organized these trainings with support of the World Health Organization.
In his message Director General Health Services Punjab Dr. Haroon Jehangir said, ” Data management team has very important role in the campaign. A total of 50 focal persons have been trained in two batches.
The first batch was imparted trainings at Lahore and second batch was trained at Islamabad. Punjab’s all 36 District shall be sharing data of 34428 teams through mobile app. Data accuracy and its timely submission shall define the quality of the campaign. I am grateful to the WHO for their support.”
The DGHS shared that this was largest ever vaccination campaign for children under the banner of EPI program. He said an advanced digitalized system was developed in which campaign data i.e. daily vaccination coverage, vaccine stock and supply, AEFI surveillance data as well as necessary analytics were updated at Campaign MIS. Similarly, through the NEOC App quality monitoring by government and partners shall be ensured.
Through Direct Disbursement Mechanism, frontline workers shall get remuneration directly to their accounts.
These focal persons shall facilitate first and second level supervisors, UCMOs and DDM focal persons in quick and accurate reporting as well support trouble shooting. Hands- on and practical demonstrations in real time scenarios was provided to staff.
Additional Director EPI Dr. Mohabbat Ali said that Measles Rubella Catch Up Campaign will be held from November 15 to 27 and more than 46.6 million children of 9 months to 15 years shall be vaccinated. Dr. Mohabbat Ali said that in this campaign, children would be immunized against Measles and Rubella in schools and community over 12 days.
EPI Punjab has conducted extensive trainings for all tiers of staff engaged in the MR campaign. Punjab with WHO support has conducted trainings for provincial staff, district master trainers, AEFI Focal Persons, Data Management Focal Person followed by extensive trickle down/cascade trainings at district, tehsil and health facility level. Minister for Health Dr. Yasmin Rashid had conveyed to EPI team that high quality training sessions would help ensure successful campaign and better public health outcomes.
Last week, worthy Health Minister had asked Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners to personally supervise the campaign and make it successful.
WHO Head of Office, Dr. Jamshed Ahmed joined trainings in Islamabad and highlighted the importance of quality data that will ensure evidence based decision making and public health action.
WHO Technical Officer Dr. Imran Qureshi and Mr. Muhammad Arfan from MicroMerger were training facilitators.— HANDOUT
