Karachi/Quetta: The Aga Khan University’s Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health (CoEWCH), in partnership with the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Balochistan, has officially launched the Strengthening Routine Immunization Project (SRIP) in Quetta, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Targeting seven underserved districts Quetta, Killa Abdullah, Chaman, Pishin, Mastung, Sibi, and Zhob SRIP aims to significantly boost routine immunization coverage and improve child health outcomes. The initiative represents a pivotal step toward addressing immunization inequities, promoting data-driven policymaking, and ensuring that no child is left behind in some of Pakistan’s most marginalized regions.
The project will enhance fixed and outreach immunization services, mobilize community awareness through Lady Health Workers and health counsellors, and strengthen data systems via the National Electronic Immunization Registry (NEIR) for real-time monitoring. A core component of SRIP is fostering accountability through close collaboration with government health teams.
The launch event was attended by senior officials from the Government of Balochistan, the Director General of the Lady Health Worker Programme, representatives from WHO, Gavi, UNICEF, the National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), the Gates Foundation, and AKU leadership.
A formal Letter of Cooperation was signed between AKU and the Government of Balochistan. Professor Sajid Soofi, Professor of Pediatrics and Associate Director at CoEWCH, signed on behalf of AKU, while Mr. Mujeeb ur Rehman, Secretary of Health, signed on behalf of their provincial government.
Highlighting the project’s groundwork, Mr. Imtiaz Hussain, Assistant Professor at AKU and Principal Investigator of SRIP, presented findings from district-level needs assessments and laid out a comprehensive roadmap for implementation. Dr. Shabina Ariff, Professor of Pediatrics and Co-Principal Investigator, acknowledged the crucial support of the Gates Foundation, EPI, and government partners. “Time is of the essence,” she noted. “We must build a sustainable system where no child is left behind.”
Commending the collaboration, Capt. (R) Anwar-ul-Haq, Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre, praised AKU’s longstanding role in health service delivery across challenging terrains. He emphasized the synergy between routine immunization and polio eradication efforts, stressing that the success of one reinforces the other.
Secretary Health Mr. Mujeeb ur Rehman expressed his gratitude to the Gates Foundation, AKU, and healthcare partners for their joint efforts. He also announced upcoming digital innovations, including AI-enabled surveillance systems in tertiary hospitals, aimed at enhancing monitoring, transparency, and service delivery in Balochistan’s healthcare infrastructure.
