Vehicles handed over to EPI vaccinators under NHSP in Sindh

IV Report

KARACHI: Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho on July 28 launched the distribution of 432 motorbikes and seven mobile vans among vaccinators and outreach teams of the Sindh Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), as part of the World Bank-financed National Health Support Programme (NHSP).

Speaking at the distribution ceremony, the minister—accompanied by Sindh Health Secretary Rehan Iqbal Baloch—handed over symbolic keys to designated district health officials. She said the newly allocated vehicles, branded with EPI messaging, were aimed at strengthening routine immunisation services and boosting public awareness across communities.

The latest initiative follows an earlier phase held on May 16, when EPI distributed 300 motorbikes to support vaccinators working in remote and hard-to-reach areas under a mobility programme financially supported by the World Health Organization (WHO). Previously, EPI had also equipped its female vaccinators with 55 scooters.

At Monday’s event, motorbikes and vans were officially handed over to district health officers (DHOs) from Karachi and various other districts. According to officials, 432 motorbikes will be used by frontline vaccinators conducting outreach sessions, while five Hiace vans and two Changan Karvan vans have been allocated to Jamshoro, Tharparkar, Sanghar, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad, Karachi-Malir, and Sujawal. These vehicles will support mobile vaccination drives and integrated service delivery (ISD) in underserved areas.

NHSP Sindh Director Dr Sahib Jan Badar, EPI Sindh Director Dr Raj Kumar, Additional Director Dr Sohail Shaikh, and representatives from WHO and UNICEF also attended the event.

Highlighting the importance of the initiative, Health Secretary Rehan Baloch stated, “Strengthening the mobility of our field teams is central to our strategy for increasing immunisation equity and reducing vaccine-preventable diseases.”

EPI Sindh Director Dr Raj Kumar noted that the mobility enhancement reflects a strong  commitment to ensuring every child is reached, regardless of location. “By equipping vaccinators with the right tools and visibility, we are bridging access gaps and reinforcing public trust in routine immunisation,” he said.

The NHSP Sindh, valid for World Bank financing through 2026, aims to support key reforms in primary healthcare. Its broader focus includes maternal and child health, reproductive health, and nutrition. The programme also fosters national dialogue and collaboration between federal and provincial health authorities to reimagine public healthcare service delivery across the province.

Photos: Health Department



With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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