13 June 2021 – The World Health Organization continues to support federal and provincial health ministries and health departments to strengthen and increase vaccination coverage under the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in Pakistan. In support of these efforts, Dr Ahmed Al Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, and Dr Palitha Mahipala, WHO Representative in Pakistan, opened a newly refurbished health facility at Gul Mohammad Dispensary (UC-8, Gadap Town, District West) during their recent visit to Sindh province.

The Regional Director and WHO Representative were accompanied by Mr Aidan O’Leary, Director of Polio Eradication, WHO headquarters, Dr Hamid Jafri, Director of the regional polio programme, Dr Zainul Abideen, and Dr Osama Mere of the WHO country office. 

Project Director of the EPI in Sindh Dr Muhammad Jumman Bahoto briefed the visiting team on WHO support to the refurbishment of EPI centres and said that an increase of 21% in EPI coverage had been recorded following refurbishment of the centre. 

The WHO Regional Director and WHO Representative expressed their appreciation of the efforts of vaccinators and said that WHO would continue to support the EPI to save lives from vaccine preventable diseases.