From the Last Mile to the Global Stage: CHD-IHHN Shares Grassroots Immunization Successes with Gavi CEO Dr.Sania Nishtar

The Community Health Directorate of Indus Hospital & Health Network represented Pakistan’s grassroots immunization experience at the Listening, Learning, and Partnering dialogue held on July 9, 2026, at Serena Hotel, Peshawar. Organized by Oxford Policy Management, MannionDaniels, and Gavi, the high-level forum brought together leading civil society organizations to exchange field experiences and strengthen collaboration for improved immunization outcomes.

CHD-IHHN was among the few organizations invited to share practical lessons from its immunization programs. The participation reflects years of community centered work in some of Pakistan’s most challenging settings, where locally driven solutions have helped improve vaccine access and acceptance.

Representing CHD, Dr. Mah Talat, Executive Director, presented the organization’s work on Routine Immunization in Balochistan, while Ms. Shamila Saleem Keyani, Program Manager, shared experiences from the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign in Sindh. Together, they highlighted operational challenges, innovative interventions, and key lessons that can inform future immunization efforts across Pakistan and beyond.

Reaching Remote Communities in Balochistan

Delivering routine immunization services in Balochistan requires overcoming vast distances, difficult terrain, and dispersed populations. CHD currently supports immunization activities across five districts and 49 Union Councils, implementing innovative approaches to ensure children in underserved communities receive life-saving vaccines.

Among the initiatives presented was the Health on Wheels model, a mobile outreach approach designed to bring vaccination services directly to hard-to-reach populations. During the session, Gavi CEO Dr. Sania Nishtar viewed videos of CHD’s field operations and appreciated the resilience and dedication of frontline teams. She noted that mobile, community-based approaches are particularly well suited for geographically challenging regions such as Balochistan.

These localized interventions have produced significant improvements. In Jaffarabad district, BCG immunization coverage increased from a baseline of 28% to 94% of the monthly target, while strengthened coordination, improved tracking mechanisms, and community engagement reduced the childhood vaccine dropout rate from 35% to 17%.

These achievements demonstrate that localization, community ownership, and strong partnerships are fundamental to expanding immunization coverage in underserved areas.

Building Community Trust for HPV Vaccination in Sindh

CHD also shared its experience from the successful implementation of the first phase of the HPV vaccination campaign in Sindh. Operating across nine districts and 45 Union Councils, the initiative successfully vaccinated more than 127,000 girls aged 9–14 years as of June 2024.

The campaign focused on building trust within communities through locally led engagement strategies. Community advocates, sensitized schoolteachers, and peer-led adolescent engagement helped address misconceptions and caregivers’ concerns, while door-to-door awareness activities strengthened community confidence in vaccination.

These community-centered strategies enabled the campaign to consistently achieve its targets and now offer valuable insights for the upcoming national Phase II HPV campaign.

Lessons for Future Immunization Programs

During the dialogue, Ms. Shamila Saleem Keyani presented six key lessons drawn from CHD’s field experience:

Allow adequate time for pre-campaign community engagement.
Empower local community members as cultural mediators.
Sensitize teachers before campaign rollout.
Design community engagement around families, not only mothers.
Engage adolescents as active partners rather than only beneficiaries.
Build government ownership and multi-sectoral partnerships from the outset.

These practical recommendations generated considerable interest among participants and highlighted the importance of community engagement in achieving sustainable immunization outcomes.

Strengthening Partnerships for Equitable Immunization

Dr. Sania Nishtar appreciated the operational insights shared by CHD-IHHN, describing them as valuable contributions to Gavi’s civil society engagement efforts. She noted that these experiences offer practical guidance for strengthening immunization policies and implementation at both national and international levels.

In her closing remarks, Dr. Nishtar emphasized the critical role of civil society organizations in complementing government health services and expanding access to both routine and campaign-based vaccinations. She also announced Gavi’s plans to strengthen collaboration with CSOs, including the launch of a dedicated funding mechanism for fragile settings that will enable organizations working in remote and underserved areas to reach more vulnerable children.

CHD-IHHN acknowledges the leadership of Dr. Sania Nishtar and values the continued partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), Oxford Policy Management, and MannionDaniels in advancing equitable immunization through collaboration and shared learning.

The Directorate also extends its sincere appreciation to Ms. Huma Khawar and Dr. Tabinda for their continued guidance, encouragement, and steadfast support throughout the implementation journey. Together, these partnerships continue to strengthen community-led approaches that ensure every child has access to life-saving vaccines, regardless of where they live.