ISLAMABAD: Unicef has provided seven 4x4 vehicles to Federal Directorate of Immunisation (FDI) to ensure that it would get access to remote regions of Pakistan.

“Provision of 4x4 vehicles will help overcome accessibility challenges in hard-to-reach areas of Khyber Paktunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.

Vaccination of children is one of the top priorities of prime minister,” Special Secretary Health Mirza Nasiruddin Mashhood Ahmad said during a ceremony to hand over the vehicles.

Funded by GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, these vehicles are pivotal in expanding integrated immunisation services to Pakistan’s most vulnerable populations. They aim to enhance service delivery, close immunisation gaps, and target zero-dose children in under-served regions. Unicef’s support includes crafting outreach and micro-plans, supplying necessary materials, monitoring progress, and ensuring optimal use of these vehicles.

Mr Mashhood encouraged donors and partners, GAVI and Unicef, to maintain momentum and explore new strategies for further improving immunisation coverage.

During the opening remarks, FDI Director General of Health Dr Shabana Saleem emphasised the importance of ensuring vaccines reach every child, no matter how remote their location is. She expressed her gratitude to Unicef for their unwavering support, stating, “These vehicles will strengthen our outreach capacity and help ensure that every child has equitable access to life-saving vaccines.”

She stated that the government firmly believed that where children remained unvaccinated, both their lives and the health of their communities were at risk.

“This is why the FDI is relentlessly working to vaccinate every child against the 12 targeted vaccine-preventable diseases, ensuring that no community, however remote or challenging, is left behind,” she said.

Highlighting Unicef’s commitment Dr Gunter Boussery said: “We are honoured to contribute to this collective effort to serve Pakistan’s underserved communities. With the support of GAVI, the government, and our partners, we are committed to building a healthier, fully immunised Pakistan.”

Zafar Iqbal Channa, Director Technical FDI, said it was another milestone in the ongoing efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s immunisation infrastructure and achieve universal health coverage for all children.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2025