PESHAWAR: A non-governmental organization, Civil Society Human and Institutional Development Programme (CHIP), is arranging puppet shows to raise awareness about vaccination in low-performing areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in an effort to improve immunization coverage.
These interactive sessions engage communities, address misconceptions and encourage parents to ensure their children receive routine immunization.
“The initiative has been launched a few months earlier with focus on those districts especially in the Southern region of KP where vaccination coverage is low due to different issues,” said Durre Shahwar Khan, Chief Executive Officer of CHIP.
She said CHIP is playing a role in strengthening vaccination coverage and outreach in collaboration with Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI) and through the support of GAVI Vaccine Alliance and Mannion & Daniel, a global health and social development consultancy.
The objective of the initiative is to overcome vaccine hesitancy, dispel myths and educate children and parents in high-risk, low-performing union councils of Peshawar and surrounding districts through spreading awareness about importance of immunization, she said while talking to Associated Press of Pakistan.
The puppet shows are held in districts including Peshawar, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and D IKhan in Pashto language for coverage of the message among the maximum number of people in an effective manner.
“The significance of vaccine efficacy in safeguarding minors from lifelong disabilities is conveyed to the public through engaging and entertaining forms of communication,” Durre Shahwar said.
She said busting myths through amusement is a very powerful approach and is showing positive results in convincing people in hard areas of the region where the maximum number of polio cases are reported in the country.
In the year 2025, 31 cases of polio were registered in Pakistan out of which 17 were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with main concentration in its Southern region.
In puppet shows, children are invited along with their parents and the performers while spreading laughter among the audience also focus on demystifying myths mostly reported among people regarding immunization, especially polio drops.
Durre Shahwar said that around 25 shows have been conducted over the past few months under the initiative, adding that an assessment will be carried out to evaluate its impact, particularly in terms of increased immunization coverage, reduction in the number of refusals and decrease in zero-dose children in the targeted districts.
The feedback response needs time, research and study which is also part of the initiative and will be carried out soon, she continued.
She added that each show engages 600 participants, most of whom are children and the activity plays an important role in raising awareness and dispelling misconceptions about immunization within the community.
The last show was held in Peshawar at Tehkal area a day before the advent of Ramazan while the activity will continue in other districts after passage of the holy month.
About other activities of CHIP in improving public health, she said the organization focuses on social mobilization, governance, health, immunization, education, sponsorships, water, sanitation, hygiene education, climate change and environment.
We are also focusing on the use of social media platforms including TikTok to educate the public about the importance of immunization.
Through short, engaging videos, we aim to dispel myths and inspire viewers to make informed health decisions, she added.
