Measles Outbreak: SHRC Raises Alarm as 132 Children Die
He stressed that the outbreak should be declared an epidemic to enable swift action.
The Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has raised serious concerns over the rising measles cases, with 132 children reported dead and over 6,670 confirmed cases in 2024 alone.
SHRC Chairman Iqbal Ahmed Detho highlighted the alarming situation in a letter to the Director General Health Services Sindh, emphasizing that measles is preventable through vaccination.
Detho called attention to the urgency of the matter, citing an increase in confirmed and suspected cases, and taking suo-motu notice of the situation under the Sindh Protection of Human Rights Act, 2011.
He stressed that the outbreak should be declared an epidemic to enable swift action.
The Chairman recommended the health authorities implement special measures as outlined in the Sindh Immunisation and Epidemics Control Act, 2023.
He underscored the importance of mandatory measles vaccinations and urged the health department to expedite vaccination efforts at the union council level.
Additionally, Detho called for immediate awareness campaigns in high-risk areas to curb the disease’s spread and protect vulnerable children. He requested that this issue be treated as an urgent priority.