Sadaf and Khalil are two of REEDS 52 dedicated frontline health volunteers who are at the heart of efforts to keep every child vaccinated in Union Council 178/7R, Liaqat Pur. 

Rural Education and Economic Development Society (REEDS) is an established a network of health volunteers in Liaqat Pur, Pakistan who support the district outreach program in the hardest to reach areas. Sadaf Khalil and Khalil Masih (pictured) are two volunteer vaccinators who work with REEDS to raise community awareness of health services and vaccination campaigns. All REEDS volunteers are working towards the same goal – to ensure every child is vaccinated. 

Sadaf and Khalil, are parents of three children, and have been health volunteers for the last two years. They fit their work with REEDS around childcare and the usual hustle and bustle of family life. Some of their core duties include talking to other parents to address their concerns about vaccination, identifying children who have not been vaccinated, and to oversee the effective vaccination campaigns. “We enjoy serving our people. And as a parent, it’s our duty to protect all children from diseases”, says Khalil. 

The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme has come a long way toward building a future in which polio no longer endangers children, families, and communities. Pakistan is still polio endemic but cases have dropped from 306 in 2014 to just 8 cases in 2017.

Unfortunately, campaigns were not reaching all children – with some areas reporting that 35% of children has been missed. Vaccination teams would go door to do, “but without any avail due to parents irresponsible attitude and farm activities.” REEDS local team volunteers and social mobilization have been working in this area to support Immunization awareness activities, and alongside leadership from the Government Health Department, there has been a huge increase in the number of parents taking interest in their vaccines.

Sadaf and Khalil emphasize the importance of training and being properly prepared for working in the local community. “Illiterate parents usually have many questions and if they cannot answer even one, the chances that they refuse to vaccinate their children increases,” says Khalil.

Before immunisation campaigns begin, REEDS health volunteers, including Sadaf and Khalil, gather at BHU for training and planning sessions – these are organized jointly by the District Health Authorities and REEDS. Volunteers discuss and learn about how to talk to parents about the importance of vaccination, as well as how to successfully respond to the many tough questions or situations they may encounter. After training, the volunteers go to their target villages, and are driven around announcing the upcoming polio and measles campaign. This is done through mosque announcements and, where necessary, going to individual houses and huts on foot, knocking on doors.