KARACHI: Sindh’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has introduced PSO fuel cards for vaccinators, making Sindh the first province in Pakistan to empower its frontline workers with this innovative support mechanism.

The initiative was inaugurated today at the EPI Directorate, with Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho Minister of Health and Population Welfare, Sindh, and Rehan Iqbal Baloch, Secretary of Health, in attendance.

Speaking at the event, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho emphasized the government’s commitment to empowering frontline workers to ensure that they can independently and efficiently carry out immunization activities across the province. She stated, “We want our frontline workers to be independent and empowered, enabling them to easily move into the field and conduct immunization activities.

The PSO card is one such initiative that is crucial to making our immunization services more effective. All vaccinators will receive these cards, which will provide them with monthly fuel to support their outreach services.”

Rehan Iqbal Baloch, Secretary of Health, reiterated the Sindh Government’s commitment to prioritizing immunization. He said, “Immunization has always been a top priority for the Sindh Government, and we are continuously working on introducing new initiatives like the PSO card to improve the program’s functionality and efficiency. This step is just the beginning, with more to follow.”

Dr. Muhammad Naeem, Project Director EPI Sindh, highlighted the significance of this first-of-its-kind initiative in Pakistan, saying, “The provision of motorbikes and scooters to vaccinators was a major step, and now, by providing them with PSO cards, we are further empowering them to carry out their critical field services. This has been a long-standing vision of our Honourable Minister of Health, and today, we are seeing it come to life.

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In her concluding remarks, Minister Pechuho also took the opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of health journalists, thanking them for their role in raising awareness among communities about the importance of vaccination.