30/04/2026
๐๐จ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐ ๐ค๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ณ๐๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ง๐-๐๐๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ณ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ณ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐๐ค.
๐ฟ๐ง. ๐๐ช๐๐๐ข๐ข๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ข๐๐ฃ, Chief Executive of Swat Medical Complex & Teaching Hospital, emphasized in his closing remarks that true medical success is achieved when knowledge is shared and awareness is spread to the very last person. Reflecting on the history of public health, he noted that diseases like smallpox, which once plagued thousands with "small black spots" and left communities in fear, were successfully eradicated because people realized the danger and committed to the campaign. He expressed his confidence that the medical staff will adopt these same best practices to promote vaccination and minimize risks to human lives, noting that todayโs success depends entirely on our collective awareness of the risks children face. Both the CEO and the Heads of Departments highly appreciated the efforts of the team in organizing such an essential awareness session. This academic activity was organized under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Usman Ali as the Chief Organizer. The event took place at the LRC Swat Medical Complex Teaching Hospital on Thursday, 30th April, 2026, to commemorate World Immunization Week. The seminar featured a welcome address by Dr. Izhar Ali, followed by a comprehensive overview of immunization and the EPI schedule presented by Dr. Azmatullah.
A critical highlight of the seminar was the presentation by Dr. Usman Ali (Assistant Professor & Fellow in Pediatric Neurology) titled "Prevent Today, Protect Tomorrow." His session centered on the devastating consequences of missed vaccinations, specifically focusing on Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE)โa rare but fatal progressive brain disease caused by a persistent measles virus infection.
Dr. Usman Ali shared a sobering case study of an 8-year-old boy, previously developmentally normal and school-going, who presented with progressive neuro-regression and myoclonic jerks. Despite being born to consanguineous parents, the child's condition was linked to a lack of vaccination. The presentation included clinical evidence such as EEG findings showing characteristic periodic complexes and a CSF Measles IgG report from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology confirming a positive result. Now bedbound and in a vegetative state, this case serves as a heart-wrenching reminder that while there is no cure for SSPE, it is entirely preventable through timely vaccination at 9 and 15 months.
The program, attended by House Officers, nursing staff, paramedical staff, and clinic attendants, further engaged the community through an Immunization Awareness Walk featuring faculty and students with placards.
For General Public Awareness: It is vital to recognize that immunization is a shared responsibility. By ensuring your children receive their scheduled vaccines, you are not only protecting them from life-threatening diseases like measles but also preventing long-term, fatal complications like SSPE. Every missed vaccine is a risk.
The session concluded with a productive discussion and profound appreciation shared by the senior faculty members for the dedication shown toward public health education and the call to "Vaccinate early, save lives".
