PESHAWAR: Three vaccination camps were organized in the remote and sparsely populated mountainous areas of Upper Kohistan district to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases and curb the spread of infectious illnesses, to provide essential immunization services to underserved communities.
The camps were established at Sachoi, Thoki and Gujjar Bond in Gabar Nala (Goshali), located about 24 kilometres east of Komila Bazaar off the Karakoram Highway, said a press release.
Residents of Gabar Nala, also known as Goshali, are scattered across rugged mountainous terrain and live under challenging geographical conditions, making access to healthcare services very difficult.
“To ensure vaccination coverage in these hard-to-reach areas, HHUJRA Village Support Organization (HVSO), with support from the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Health Department and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, organized the camps, says Dr. Munib, team lead HUJRA.
The initiative aimed to improve immunization coverage and raise awareness among community members about the importance of routine vaccination for children and pregnant women.
“The camps marked an important step towards improving public health in the remote mountainous region by protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases and reducing the risk of infectious disease outbreaks”, he added.
Health workers administered vaccines in accordance with the national immunization schedule and provided guidance on disease prevention and child health.
During the camps, children were vaccinated against various diseases, particularly measles, while special efforts were made to identify and vaccinate zero-dose children who had not previously received routine immunization.
The camps played a significant role in extending vaccination services to remote and scattered populations and successfully brought many previously unvaccinated children into the immunization network.
