Twenty three vans to be used for expanding essential immunization coverage in high risk districts including five mega cities and the Islamabad Capital Territory, were handed over by the United Nations Children’s Fund to the Federal Expanded Programme for Immunization.
The Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health, Dr. Faisal Sultan received the vans from UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, Ms. Aida Girma in presence of the World Health Organisation Representative, Dr. Palitha Mahipala. The SAPM then passed on the ceremonial keys of the vehicles to representatives of the provincial health departments.
“We are thankful to our partners like UNICEF, WHO and Gavi for their continuous support to us as we strive to improve health services for the people and especially children of Pakistan,” said Dr. Faisal Sultan, Specials Assistant to Prime Minister on Health.
“This donation of vehicles would further strengthen our immunization programme and we will be able to manage our campaigns in a more effective manner.”
“I would like to share that we are about to launch the biggest ever measles campaign in the world. It would cover the entire country and it aims to vaccinate 90 million children.
While we continue with the COVID-19 vaccination during which 1.7 million people were vaccinated yesterday in a single day, we are about to launch this massive campaign against measles.
So far only one case of polio has been detected in the current year which is a very good news. All this speaks of the strength of our health system and we register progress in every domain,” he added.
“WHO is partnering with the Government of Pakistan and supports ensuring that all children get vaccinated against vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Dr Palitha Mahipala, WHO Representative in Pakistan.
Vaccination is one of the most successful public health measures in the history of medicine. The collaboration and the donation are important to strengthen routine immunization services and improve coverage.
