Fighting Polio in Gadap Town
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VOL.1.0, 2012 COMBATING PAKISTAN RED CRESCET SOCIETY AGAINST SINDH PROVINCIAL BRANCH POLIO & HP QUARTERLY REPORT – MAY TO JULY 2012 | FAWWAD SHERWANI – FIELD COORDINATOR Pakistan Red Crescent Society Sindh Provincial Branch May 2012 Polio Awareness and Vaccination Campaign Gadap Town is located in The population of Gadap Out of 8 Union Councils 3 the northwestern part town is about 300,000 are selected for target of Karachi with the Hub individuals and activities on the basis of River on its western limits administratively it is divided previous data of Polio cases also forming the provincial into 8 Union Counsels. and vulnerability of the border between Sindh According to a recent report population. In this view a and Balochistan, while to the published by World Health north and east are Dadu detailed assessment done Organization (WHO) has District and the Kirthar house by house and expressed concerns over Mountains . intervention planned to outfit emergence of Polio cases the population. There are over 400 rural and reportedly Gadap villages in Gadap Town. Town is considered as one of The three union councils Some of the rural villages of the most affected area for included are UC-3 (Gadap), Gadap Town are: Old Polio in Karachi. Thana Village, Mula Essa UC 4 (Gujro) and UC 5 Pakistan Red Crescent Goth, Jam Goth, Memon (Songal) with a catchment Society Sindh Provincial Goth, Haji Miandad Goth, population of more than branch initiated a campaign Samoon Goth, Haji Murad 121,850 individuals. in collaboration with district Jaffar Goth, Darsano administration/ authorities to Chhano, Kathore, Saleh cater the vulnerable Mohammad Goth, Kohi communities in target areas. Goth, etc. Target Union Councils The main reason for selecting activities for awareness and but volunteers did their best these union councils is that polio eradication campaign. in order to get confidence of these areas are less When the activities were community and go on with equipped with health happening volunteers faced activities. facilities, roads, water extremely hard difficulties, This campaign is part of all supply sanitation and other some of the volunteers the activities to eradicate the facilities are inadequate and reported that people used to Polio from Pakistan in people are facing a lot of fling stones and other things, conjoint with WHO/UNICEF. nuisance in this regard. Most bunged their children in The WHO team in this of the population belongs to rooms and houses, affronted regard trained PRCS staff the Pashto community and the females and male for creating awareness and they are very much strict in volunteers, and formed many educate the communities. A the beliefs about Polio other problems and united effort made by all the campaigns and other impediment to carry on partners and stake holders relative initiatives. It was activities. It was tough to to make the intervention very hard to commence such work in such an atmosphere more efficient and result ivities for awareness and eers did their best in order oriented. To make the polio eradication campaign. to get confidence of programme more amicable QuarterlyWhen the Reportactivities were – Maycommunity 2012 toand Julygo on with 2012 and well-organized, it was happening volunteers faced activities. decided to involve the extremely hard difficulties,2 community leaders, resource some of the volunteers able and educated persons reported that people used to and above all locals as fling stones and other things, volunteers to make it a Pakistan Red Crescent Society Sindh Provincial Branch Activities – Work in Progress oriented. To make the the community about the c) General team (Door program more amicable and queries related to Polio to Door) well-organized, it was drops. All the activities were decided to involve the Volunteers worked very conducted in three of the community leaders, resource UCs. able and educated persons hard, they faced difficult and above all locals as challenges by the community The volunteers mobilized, volunteers to make it a and penetrated into the awareness created, data success. community. Due to utmost collected from door to door, effort by these volunteers and children vaccinated The activities started on 2nd people got convinced of the house by house. of May with awareness Polio campaign and sessions and screening of cooperated to some extent. Although there was much population for Polio. resistance from the local Three different types of community, especially Data Collected for cases of teams were formed: Polio along with Hepatitis B Pathans, but volunteers and C. managed to make a way a) Fix centre The volunteers got training into the community and from World Health b) Street Team vaccinated at door step. Organization to create the awareness and educate and the most important Achievements & Challenges The performance of Pakistan Pakistan Red Crescent Gadap being one of the Red Crescent Society is Society with the support of high risk area PRCS initiated undoubtedly a huge support IFRC, has done remarkable the activity. to the government and work to cover those areas Targeted union councils were against this mammoth risk of which previously were missed visited and educated about wild spreading of polio due to bitter response from the wild polio disease, Pakistan Red the community and Activities performed door to Crescent Society took lead resistance. Even then we door in the villages of union and decided to equip those need to make all-out efforts councils areas which are lacking such to rein this crippling disease. Delivered lecture on “Health facilities. The role of A few success points / Risk Reduction” focusing on Pakistan Red Crescent achievements of the activities the motive that Prevention is Society cannot be ignored are as follows: better than cure! due to achieving the targets Since May, June and July Well informed about Health in most pungent condition are peak months for and hygiene and their and accepting challenges. spreading of poliovirus and importance in life The teams performed their Quarterly Report – May 2012 to July 2012 3 Pakistan Red Crescent Society Sindh Provincial Branch Achievements & Challenges Assignments with full dedication and reports and information about the Insecurity: As the area was not visited continue to deliver in the toughest area and the local residents that are by any vaccination teams due to situations facing the challenges rigid in their nature and moral values. insecurity, chances are increased for provided by the local community However, constructive measures were the increased infected children. taken timely to make the project a success even in the worst scenario as In acceptance: They are strong Meetings set with the local Community well. believers and religious followers that Leaders for smooth ongoing of Challenges they didn’t accept any awareness in activities and thus got benefited at Some of the major obstacles met and this regard and remain to stick with large that were handled during the activity their false believes Mix Community: Difficult to handle as Locals including the local organizations are as follows: High Risk Area: Gadap Town is one some areas densely populated by were involved, educated, motivated Pathan, some are balochi and some and thus agreed for better of the high risk areas against the wild are sindhi speaking. Urdu speaking understanding against the polio polio as reported by the WHO in the recent publication. are also present as well in some Hiring locals advantaged as no Persistent Circulation: The areas. Best way to deal with is hiring language barrier/ cultural barrier/ as environmental surveillance system had of locals as stated above and should the team truly understand the moral clearly proves persistent circulation of be followed in future to avoid such and cultural values of the community wild poliovirus in the area and issues. children in these areas stood Threats for Kidnapping: Pathans by Understanding developed for future vulnerable to the virus force stop the activity in their area program in the rigid area Illiteracy: Majority in the community even the case for threatening the are illiterate teams and kidnapping of 2 female Initiative taken to involve locals as Rigidity: Community is rigid in moral members were also reported but the volunteers make the campaign a values & strict cultural followers teams managed and dedicated at success (from driver to a field Sanitation: The area is facing huge apex level that they continue their coordinator, supervisor and team challenges of water and sanitation work till the end leader), volunteers taken from locals False information: Sometimes false No outsiders: As stated above, made us accessible in the areas that information about the children and the community only allow their locals and are not visited earlier due to insecurity family is reported to avoid any don’t allow outsiders to even visit door or poor quality of campaign. interaction and accessibility to 2 door household as well as children. Inaccessibility: Access to the Vaccinating the children and Misconception: Community is of the household is not allowed even the maintaining cold chain view that such campaigns are related females are discouraged and to family planning & are conducted to Equip the targeted union councils and acceptance in females is strictly reduce the Muslim population & infiltration into the far-flung areas. resisted. specifically (Pakhton) Skin disease: Vastly affected by the Good coordination with MoH and skin diseases WHO/UNICEF Drinking Water: Purification