The discussion centered on monitoring vaccination teams, assessing workloads, and ensuring a rational distribution of vaccinators, with a focus on covering missed children
By Saima Baloch
KARACHI: The ongoing Sub-National Immunization Days (SNIDs) campaign received a significant boost as high-level officials conducted comprehensive visits to assess and enhance vaccination efforts across Sindh. The visits were led by National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) Coordinator Captain Anwar ul Haq and Provincial EOC Coordinator for Sindh, Irshad Ali Sodhar. They were joined by Dr. Ahmed Ali Shaikh, Technical Focal Person BMGF for Sindh, and Dr. Altaf Bosan, National Technical Focal Person.
The campaign, which runs from September 9 to 15, aims to immunize 9.4 million children across 30 districts of Sindh, with a special focus on high-risk areas to ensure that no child is left unvaccinated.
District Badin: The officials’ visit to District Badin concentrated on improving the campaign’s quality and reporting accuracy. At a meeting chaired by the Deputy Commissioner at the DC Office, directives were issued to validate zero-dose coverage and address discrepancies. Emphasis was placed on monitoring vaccination teams, evaluating workloads, and ensuring rational distribution of vaccinators. Search teams were also instructed to cover migrant populations and review clusters with significant numbers of missed children.
District Sujawal: In Sujawal, the team, welcomed by Deputy Commissioner Zahid Hussain and District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. Muhammad Hanif Memon, reviewed the progress of previous initiatives, including the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and coverage of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV2) in high-risk Union Councils (UCs). The district’s efforts were commended, but continued stepwise improvements were urged to meet immunization targets.
District Tharparkar: The focus in Tharparkar was on evaluating the performance of the September SNIDs 2024 campaign. Joined by Deputy Commissioner Abdul Haleem Jagirani and DHO Dr. Bharat Kumar, the team assessed progress and challenges encountered in the field. Visits to Civil Hospital Mithi, transit points, and nutrition centers ensured that healthcare services met quality standards. The commitment to maintaining Tharparkar’s polio-free status was highlighted.
Mirpurkhas Division Mid-Campaign Review: A Divisional Mid-Campaign Review Meeting was held for the Mirpurkhas Division, chaired by the Commissioner of Mirpurkhas Division. The meeting, attended by Captain Anwar ul Haq, Mr. Irshad Sodhar, and Dr. Ahmed Ali Shaikh (BMGF PEOC), featured progress reports from District Commissioners, District Health Officers, AC WHO, and DEOC teams. The Commissioner underscored the importance of covering missed children, while NEOC and PEOC Coordinators discussed strategies for reaching hard-to-access and riverine areas.
