PESHAWAR
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department’s Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) has launched a province-wide Measles and Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign, setting a target to immunize 6.4 million children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years.
The drive, which will run from **17 to 29 November, aims to achieve a minimum of 95 percent coverage through 6,509 vaccination teams, including fixed, outreach, and mobile units.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Provincial Minister for Health Khaleeq ur Rehman, Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Information Shafiullah, Secretary Information Bakhtiar Khan, DG Health Dr. Shahid Younis, Director EPI Dr. Asghar Khan, DG Information Imran Khan and the UNICEF Health Team.
According to officials, all preparations, micro-planning, validation, and staff training have been completed, with full support from relevant departments to ensure smooth field operations.
Speaking on this occasion, CS-KP Shahab Ali Shah said that health remains a top priority for the provincial government. He added that district administrations were making every effort to ensure the campaign’s success and urged parents to cooperate with vaccination teams, noting that public participation was vital for the success of any health initiative.
Health Minister Khaleeq ur Rehman highlighted that several ongoing projects aim to improve healthcare services across the province.
He emphasized that the government fully supports the Health Department at all levels, adding that the MR campaign’s success was a shared responsibility. Secretary Health Shahid Ullah Khan said further reforms were underway in the sector and urged media outlets to play a positive role to ensure no child is left unvaccinated.
Director EPI Dr. Asghar Khan reaffirmed the department’s commitment to a successful campaign and thanked the government for its continued support.
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Information Shafiullah noted that the provincial government was taking serious steps to modernize the health sector.
He added that being elected for a third term reflects public trust, and the government is determined to meet citizens’ expectations.
The MR campaign aims to protect children from life-threatening diseases and reduce the burden of vaccine-preventable illnesses. The Health Department has urged parents and communities to participate actively to ensure the protection of every child.
