KARACHI, Jan 29: In an attempt to avert childhood pneumonia and meningitis cases, it has been decided to include haemophilus influenza type-b vaccines to routine immunisation campaigns by the mid of 2008 under the expanded infant vaccination programme.

This was stated by the director of the National Institute of Child Health (NICH), Prof Afroze Ramzan Sherali, at the concluding session of the institute’s three-day annual symposium on Tuesday.

The Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunisation (GAVI) in November 2007 had approved a support allocation of Rs369.98 million for 16 countries, including Pakistan, for the introduction of a pentavalent vaccine of diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenza type-b (Hib) combination.

It is said that one out of every 350 children born in Pakistan dies of haemophilus influenza type-b every year, while thousands of those who do not die are left with a life-long disability.

Dr Afroze said that the NICH had been involved in a multi-sector research project on bacterial meningitis, which provided the evidence that Hib was the most common bacteria causing meningitis in children less than five years.

She said that the government had agreed to incorporate haemophilus influenza type-b vaccines in routine immunisation and as such the vaccines would also be available to children of less than one year at the NICH.

She expressed the hope that with the adoption of the Hib vaccines, the country would be able to defeat the awful child killer. “Haemophilus Influenza type-b is also estimated to be responsible for 20 per cent of life-threatening pneumonia, the leading cause of deaths among children less than 5 year of age globally”, she said.

The NICH director said that the institute, which was established in 1972 as a paediatric school with 110 beds had now transformed into a 500-bed facility with several sub-specialities like neonatology, nephrology, oncology, burns, intensive care, MRI units and an out-patient department.

She said that during the current year more units like pulmonology, gastroenterology and neuropsychiatry department would be added to the NICH. Besides, efforts were on to perform bone marrow and renal transplantations as well, she informed the audience.

The chief guest of the session, Sindh caretaker Minister for Health Fauzia A Lari appreciated the role of the NICH towards an improved child health care extension and assured the director of her all-out support in solving some problems of the institute.

Earlier, speakers of the scientific sessions deliberated on the challenges and diseases pertaining to Pakistani children and suggested remedial measures.

According to a presentation made by Rubina Ghani and Tahir Shamsi, there was a need to remain aware of yellow fever as it belonged to the viral family of dengue and chikungunya.

Dr Anita Zaidi, Prof Amin Gohary and Dr Zafar Zaidi also spoke.