Keeping in view the outbreak of measles and necessary preventive measures in Sindh, the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) is airing public service messages aimed at sensitising communities about the importance of immunisation, timely diagnosis and treatment of the disease from May 15, 2013.
A statement here on Tuesday said that these messages will be aired at eight different times of the day for a period of one month through FM-93 of Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) in Sindhi and Thari languages. It said that these messages have been developed in close co-ordination with health experts vis-à-vis taking on board partner organisations of PPAF working in the affected areas so that the communities could be provided necessary awareness about measles. The statement pointed out that since its outbreak, measles has taken the toll in the form of deaths of infants.
The most important need of the time is to educate and aware communities, especially the poor, marginalised and illiterate to save their kids from this disease. It is expected that these radio messages will go a long way in educating the target communities and help decrease outbreak of measles. Pakistan, the statement pointed out, is one of the top five countries in the world having the highest number of unvaccinated children, which is the root cause of all epidemics.
In order to supplement government's efforts for community development, PPAF is focused on developing sustainable and self-functioning institutions of the poor that enable average citizens to negotiate with the government and build trust and relationships at local and sectoral levels while using PPAF's platform for this co-ordinated effort.