HEALTH-UAE: Plans to wipe out measles

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Att.Editors: The following item is by the United Arab Emirates news agency (WAM)

ABU DHABI, Mar 12 2003 (IPS) - Directors of preventive medicine departments met last Monday to discuss a plan for the eradication of measles in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

According to Dr Mahmoud Mohammed Abdullah Fikri, Undersecretary for Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health, the meeting moved to set up committees to speed the measles eradication process, according to a report in the ‘Gulf News’.

Preventive medicine officials will tour residential areas, particularly in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, to register the names of children who have not yet been vaccinated. These children will be visited later at their homes and vaccinated.

The meeting discussed the ministry’s requirements and preparations to receive the World Health Organization technical committee, assigned to declare the UAE a malaria free country.

The meeting also discussed plans to eradicate contagious diseases. It reviewed a report on tuberculosis which states that the ministry managed to reduce tuberculosis cases in the last two years.