JALALABAD CITY (SW) – Health officials in Nangarhar report a surge in measles cases within the province.
Sayed Mohammad Mohammadi, a specialist at Nangarhar’s Anthani Hospital, says that in the past year, 960 patients with measles have been admitted to this hospital for treatment, of which 19 children have died.
Mohammadi considers the measles a deadly disease, emphasizing that if its spread is not prevented in Nangarhar, the lives of many children will be in danger. “In one year, we have hospitalized 960 patients, of which 808 have recovered. However, 19 children died as a result of this disease, and the condition of 16 others is critical,” he added.
Naqibullah Rahimi, the head of the Media Department of the Nangarhar Public Health Directorate, says that the directorate plans to start a house-to-house vaccination campaign to prevent the measles spread. “We have clinics with good facilities for measles and other contagious diseases; all clinics have the necessary medication and daily vaccines. Next week, we will start the house-to-house vaccination campaign in the districts of Nangarhar.”
Some families in this province whose children have been affected by measles disease, urge the health officials to address the problem of the spread of measle.
Atiqullah, a resident of Kot district in Nangarhar, who brought his nephew to the Antani Hospital for treatment, says that measles cases have increased and the government must to find a solution to address it.
He adds, “This disease has increased in many districts, and people who bring their patients from those areas are really struggling. We urge the Islamic Emirate to start measles vaccination in all districts to eradicate this disease.”
According to health experts, symptoms such as cold, high fever, loss of appetite, and cough in children are signs of measles. They also emphasize that to boost the body’s resistance in patients affected by measles, they should be given warm fluids and kept warm.
