It is learnt that International donor agencies, which have been financially and technically supporting the MoHP´s immunization programs for children, have serious reservations about the proposed vaccination drive.[break] The donors´ skepticism follows CHD´s dismal performance in immunizing children against measles.
"The rate of coverage of vaccination against measles has steadily been declining. This has understandably worried the donors," said a highly-placed aid organization official on condition of anonymity. "This is the reason why the donors, who previously pledged to assist the vaccination program against rubella, are unlikely to lend their support. In this case, the government will have no other options but to abandon its proposed program."
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), among others, are major partners in the government immunization programs for children. No vaccination drive that targets at protecting children from rubella, however, has been launched so far. The government has only incorporated it into its future plans and programs.
The coverage rate of immunization drive against measles, which was 82.6 percent two in 2007, has declined by five percent two years later. According to the Health Management Information System (HMIS), the measles vaccination coverage rate has nosedived to just 75.36 percent in 2009. Also in 2008, it slightly decreased to 79.01 percent compared to the previous year.
The donors, it is learnt, have asked the CHD, which executes immunization programs, to increase the coverage of measles vaccination up to the mark as a prerequisite for ensuring the success of a future drive against rubella. However, the CHD´s director RP Bichhya said, "We are examining various factors to decide whether to launch a vaccination drive against rubella. Even if we take a positive decision, our plan will be materialized only by 2012. So we cannot say anything at this moment."
A research report made public by the WHO in 2009 says several outbreaks of rubella--widely know known as German measles-- have recently occurred in Nepal. The report further says many supposed measles outbreaks reported in the past could have been rubella epidemic. As rubella shares similar features of measles, a laboratory test is needed to distinguish the two. Doctors say rubella is more dangerous to pregnant women.
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