By Imtiaz Hussain
SUKKUR: A meeting of the District Task Force on Sub-National Immunization Days (SNIDs) May 2026 was held at the Commissioner’s Office under the chairmanship of Commissioner Sukkur Division Abid Saleem Qureshi.
The meeting was attended in person by the Additional Deputy Commissioner-II, representatives of the World Health Organization, divisional EPI officials and DTF partners, while all Deputy Commissioners, District Health Officers and DEOC partners joined online.
Officials from all districts presented updates on ongoing SNIDs preparations for May 2026 and highlighted key operational challenges and planning considerations for the upcoming National Immunization Days campaign.
The commissioner, taking note of extreme weather conditions, directed all districts to ensure the availability of oral rehydration salts, cold drinking water and adequate stocks of ice for field teams working in the field.
He said campaign quality, particularly in low-performing union councils, would be given special focus, with one dedicated monitor assigned to each such area.
He also stressed that micro plans must be strengthened, especially in union councils where monitoring and quality assessment had not been conducted, to address gaps before the campaign.
Cold chain management was described as a top priority given the harsh weather conditions, while union council level emergency response mechanisms were to be reinforced through a dedicated monitoring plan and improved data reporting systems.
The meeting decided that missed children from previous campaigns, particularly those classified as “not available”, would be vaccinated on a priority basis, with lists to be shared by UCMOs with field teams. Persistently missed children would be documented, while children who had permanently migrated after missing three consecutive rounds would be excluded from micro plans.
Morning orientation sessions were instructed to be attended by all monitors, while vaccinators would be provided with lists of zero-dose children to ensure full coverage during the campaign.
Special arrangements were also discussed for border and reassigned areas, including Kot Jubo and adjoining regions, to ensure proper coordination between districts. Bordering areas of Punjab adjacent to Ghotki were also reviewed to ensure continued cross-district monitoring and vaccination coverage.
Routine immunisation performance was also reviewed, with district teams directed to identify causes of low coverage and submit reports along with corrective action plans. Zero-dose children linked to confirmed measles cases were ordered to be investigated for accountability.
The meeting further decided that missed children, mobile populations, high-rise buildings, courtyard houses, guest children and previously unvaccinated groups would be prioritised. Validation of locked and inaccessible households would also be carried out during the campaign.
Officials concluded that discrepancies in target populations compared to the April 2026 campaign would be reviewed, and all missing areas would be incorporated into updated micro plans.
