PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), in collaboration with UNICEF, has launched a youth-focused initiative to engage students and adolescents as immunization ambassadors in efforts to eradicate polio and promote vaccination awareness in communities. The Students and Adolescents for Health and Immunization (SAHI) initiative will engage students from selected schools, colleges and universities and equip them with information and tools to promote vaccination, dispel myths and encourage families to cooperate with immunisation teams. The first event under the initiative was held at the City University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, on Wednesday. Additional Secretary Health and EOC Coordinator Shafiullah Khan, UNICEF National Team Lead Melissa Corkum, Assistant Commissioner Faqirabad Sabiha Jamil, Gates Foundation representative Emad Hassan, EOC Technical Focal Person Dr Ali Haidar, NSTOP Provincial Team Lead Dr Muhammad Imran Khan, City University Dean Prof Dr Arif Shah and officials of UNICEF, WHO and EOC attended the event along with a large number of students. Addressing the gathering, Mr Khan said students were powerful messengers who could play an important role in spreading accurate information about vaccination and addressing misconceptions in their families and neighbourhoods. DLP Report
He said youth engagement through the SAHI initiative provided an opportunity to strengthen public awareness and build long-term community trust in immunisation. Students, he added, could become influential advocates for vaccination and help create greater community ownership of the polio eradication effort.
Technical experts from UNICEF, WHO and NSTOP briefed the students about polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases, the importance of immunisation and the progress and challenges facing polio eradication efforts at the global, national and provincial levels.
Dr Muhammad Imran and WHO Area Coordinator Dr Ehtisham highlighted the importance of sustained vaccination, community engagement and collective action to protect children from polio and achieve the goal of a polio-free Pakistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Presenting the SAHI initiative, UNICEF Social and Behaviour Change Specialist Jahanuddin said the EOC had previously developed partnerships with religious scholars, paediatricians, civil society, media and educational institutions to promote immunisation. The new initiative, he said, would provide a structured mechanism for mobilising young people as immunisation ambassadors.
He said the ambassadors would disseminate correct information about vaccines, encourage families to cooperate with vaccinators and ensure that children received polio and routine immunisation. They would also help counter myths and misconceptions surrounding vaccines.
Ms Corkum stressed the importance of youth participation and community engagement in strengthening immunisation and polio eradication efforts. She urged students to play their part in giving a final push to the eradication of the poliovirus in Pakistan and globally.
Assistant Commissioner Faqirabad Sabiha Jamil appreciated the initiative and assured the organisers of the district administration’s support for similar activities aimed at promoting health awareness among communities.
Earlier, City University Dean Prof Dr Arif Shah said the university was honoured to host the activity, describing it as an important initiative linked to the health and wellbeing of future generations. He said the university was committed to supporting health-related interventions and would extend cooperation in such programmes.
