EOC KP Launches Youth-led Social, Behavior Change Initiative to Promote Immunization Awareness
EOC KP has initiated a youth-driven campaign to raise awareness about polio and other immunizations by engaging students from educational institutions as ambassadors. These ambassadors will spread knowledge and encourage vaccine acceptance within their communities.
"Students & Adolescents for Health and Immunization (SAHI)," the initiative’s name, positions young individuals as trusted sources of information on immunizations. The program invites volunteers from schools, colleges, and universities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to participate.
During an orientation session held at City University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, attendees included Melissa Corkum, Polio National Team Lead for UNICEF in Pakistan; Shafiullah Khan, Additional Secretary Health and EOC Coordinator; Emaad Hassan, Senior Programme Officer from the Gates Foundation; Prof. Dr. Arif Shah, Dean of City University; and Shahdab Younas, UNICEF Communication Officer.
In her opening remarks, Shahdab Younas highlighted the initiative’s goal:
"The initiative… positions young people as trusted and informed immunization ambassadors within schools, colleges, and universities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa."
Prof. Dr. Arif Shah welcomed the program, emphasizing the university’s commitment to contributing to a national cause aimed at protecting children from polio and promoting healthy practices.
Dr. Imran of EOC emphasized the need for widespread participation in improving immunization coverage. He noted challenges faced by vaccination teams, including parental refusals and security concerns in certain areas of the province. Highlighting significant global progress in polio eradication, he urged collective efforts to eliminate the disease from Pakistan and the region.
"This is the prime time for us to be listed among countries where polio is no longer endemic," he added, "but we all have to work together, including young people."
