UNHCR, Health Deptt sign MoU to boost immunisation

Refugee hosting areas

PESHAWAR: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Department of Health, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to strengthen and improve immunization services in the province with special focus on Afghan refugees’ villages and the host population.

The signing ceremony was held at the Health Secretariat here. The UNHCR Head of Sub-office in Peshawar Oscar Mundia and Provincial Secretary Health Abid Majeed signed the MoU. Director of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Dr Abdul Hamid Afridi was also present.

The MoU is aimed at enhancing the capacity for storage of vaccines at Provincial EPI programme and other related operational services extended by public sector health facilities to the host population and logistic resource availability for providing services to both Afghan refugees and host population.

Provincial EPI programme will provide free vaccines for Afghan refugees and host-communities. UNHCR will also provide training to the provincial EPI staff for vaccination in the refugee villages and host-communities in handling, management, care and maintenance of the cold storage units.