Sania Nishtar lauds CSOs’ role in strengthening routine immunization, zero dose coverage

PESHAWAR, Jul 10 (APP):Internationally renowned public health expert and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Dr. Sania Nishtar, has lauded the contribution of civil society organizations (CSOs) in reaching zero-dose and under-immunized children in remote and hard-to-reach areas.

The community-based efforts by CSOs had played a pivotal role in improving vaccine acceptance and expanding immunization coverage, she added.

She expressed these views while addressing the “Listening, Learning and Partnering” dialogue between Gavi and civil society organizations working to strengthen routine immunization, particularly among zero-dose, under-immunized, and hard-to-reach children.

The dialogue also served as a platform to review lessons learned from the first phase of Pakistan’s Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme and to develop strategies for the successful rollout of the cervical cancer prevention campaign in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in November 2026.

Representatives of various organizations, including Community Health Directorate (CHD) of Indus Hospital, Rural Education and Economic Development Society (REEDS), Civil Society Human and Institutional Development Programme (CHIP), Association of Mothers and Newborns (AMAN), Medical Emergency Resilience Foundation (MERF), HUJRA Village Support Organization and KDO (Khagarah Development Organization), shared their experiences in delivering immunization services in remote, underserved, and security-compromised areas.

Director General Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI) Dr. Musa Khan, Coordinator of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shafiullah Khan, Director Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) KP Dr. Suhail Ahmad, Strategic Advisor for CSO Engagement at MannionDaniels, Huma Khawar, health officials and representatives of partner organizations also attended the dialogue.

Dr. Sania said she came from a civil society background and fully understood the invaluable role played by CSOs, as well as the challenges faced by their staff in working under demanding conditions, heavy workloads and tight deadlines.

She said, meaningful public health interventions could not succeed without the active engagement of civil society organizations, which often work in remote and underserved communities where routine health teams face difficulties in gaining access and overcoming vaccine hesitancy.

Agreeing with a suggestion from participants, Dr. Sania emphasized the need to allocate adequate time for planning immunization campaigns and communicating clear and convincing messages to communities about the importance of vaccination.

She said public confidence could not be built through hasty or short-term efforts, stressing that sustained community engagement, effective communication, and meticulous planning were essential for the success of any immunization campaign.

She advised health workers to ensure detailed planning, strict adherence to implementation plans, and unwavering commitment while carrying out immunization activities. She also urged them to treat communities with humility, respect, and empathy to build trust and encourage greater vaccine acceptance.

Reaffirming Gavi’s long-term commitment to Pakistan, she said the organization would continue supporting the country’s immunization programme despite a decline in financial contributions from some donor countries.

“We will continue to support all vaccines, including the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, to help prevent cervical cancer among women and girls,” she added.