Karachi, January 1, 2024 – District East, under the leadership of Dr. Shakeel Qureshi, District Health Officer (DHO), organized a grand walk from the Tomb of Quaid-e-Azam towards MA Jinnah Road in Karachi. The primary objective of the walk was to promote Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) against 12 diseases, including polio vaccination, in the city.
The initiative received significant support from various stakeholders, including Provincial EPI Sindh, and collaborative efforts from renowned organizations such as WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International, Dr. Essa Lab, IRD, TKF, Vital Pakistan, and Greenstar.
Expressing his hopes for the new year, Dr. Muhammad Naeem, Project Director EPI Sindh, emphasized the importance of ensuring children are vaccinated and protected from life-threatening diseases like Polio, Measles, Diphtheria, and Pneumonia.
Dr. Sohail Shaikh, Additional PD Sindh, highlighted the crucial role of the private sector and partners in strengthening the EPI program in Sindh. He commended District East for organizing a well-coordinated walk that engaged all partners.
Dr. Shakeel Qureshi, DHO East, stated that the walk was part of an awareness program designed to connect with the local community, demonstrate commitment to vaccination, and ensure that all children are protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Dr. Farhan Essa, CEO of Dr. Essa Labs in Karachi, pledged continued support for vaccination programs and announced the establishment of free vaccination services at all Dr. Essa Labs in the city.
Underlining the priority of polio and EPI, Dr. Khalid Shafi, Secretary-General of the Pakistan Pediatric Association Karachi, emphasized the collective responsibility of doctors to vaccinate all children without borders, as the vaccine is a safe and cost-effective solution.
The walk, which commenced in the morning, saw enthusiastic participation from lady health workers, polio teams, District East Operation Centre (DEOC), partners, and local communities. Dr. Hameed Jumani, Dr. Jameel Mughal, Dr. Shams Jokhio, Dr. Kelash Babu, Suneel Raja, Dr. Aneela Allahbux, and many others joined the event, demonstrating a unified commitment to the cause.
As we step into the new year, District East reaffirms its dedication to safeguarding the health of children through robust vaccination initiatives, and calls upon the community to join hands in this critical endeavor.
