Some recognition for polio vaccinators, at last!

Rawalpindi
Thirty vaccinators were awarded merit certificates at the first-ever Vaccinators Convention organised by the Rawalpindi district management in collaboration with the National Emergency Operations Centre at the Rawalpindi Arts Council here on Tuesday.
“Vaccinators are the backbone of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation and the Pakistan Polio Programme. We are certainly proud of you,” remarked the PM’s focal person on polio, Ayesha Raza Farooq, while addressing the convention, which was attended by more than 300 vaccinators of polio high-risk union councils.
The convention was jointly presided over by Ayesha Raza and Adviser to the Chief Minister on Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq. DCO Rawalpindi Sajid Zafar Dall and EDO Health Dr. Nasir Khan also attended.
Ayesha conveyed the PM’s appreciation to the vaccinators, and paid tribute to their services. She then distributed certificates of appreciation among all vaccinators and thanked them for leading the programme.
The DCO Rawalpindi appreciated the hard work of frontline workers and attributed the polio-free status of Rawalpindi to the dedication of vaccinators and polio teams. “The Rawalpindi district is polio-free since 2010 and our aim is to keep our district free from the menace of poliovirus,” Dall said.
A veteran vaccinator, Manzoor Pervaiz, while sharing his experiences, said this was the first time in his 32-year career that a high official had acknowledged vaccinators’ contribution to the cause. He raised the real issues of vaccinators and polio teams, including delayed payments, maintenance of vehicles and other human issues. “We have lost our colleague due to cardiac arrest in the line of duty but no one has ever recognised him and his family,” he stated.
Khawaja Salman Rafique termed vaccinators as the real force behind success in polio eradication. He shared that the government of the Punjab has already increased the stipend of polio teams. He committed to addressing the concerns of vaccinators.
Many vaccinators asked questions and shared their experiences during open discussion session.