Last year we saw 460 children die due to lack of vaccine for measles. Let’s hope that we are better prepared this year. This is a very common disease and children dying; due to lack of vaccines speak of blatant negligence on the part of our government. A report was requested and the reasons given in the findings of the official inquiry, headed by honorable Justice(r) Mohammad Raza Khan have been made public. The fact finding committee in an 80- pages report concluded that the delay in the provision of vaccines was the result of a rigid procedure of procurement, designed by bureaucracy. The other very sad aspect of this story of misery is the sheer negligence on the parts of federal, provincial and district administrations, headed by bureaucrats.
The loss of precious lives could have been minimised, had some preventive measures been taken in time, in the flood affected areas of Sindh and other provinces. The issue is still there, it needs to be addressed accordingly, but who cares! After losing 460 precious lives, it is right time to revise the tough rules and regulations of procurement of vaccines and not to promulgate any further laws that will create more red tape for the poor. There should be strict laws preventing the bureaucracy from taking more than its due share from the public funds for their pleasure and enjoyment. What kind of a country are we living in?
DR MUKHTAR ALI,
Kurram Agency, March 16.