Awakening Hope for Faliha: WHO-SIMOs fulfilling every Child’s Right to Vaccination.

Every child has the fundamental right to health, including access to life-saving vaccinations. Identifying and vaccinating zero-dose children is a vital commitment to uphold this basic human right. This effort is essential not only in preventing disease outbreaks but also for promoting health equity, reducing mortality and morbidity, driving economic benefits, strengthening global health systems, building trust in healthcare, and achieving sustainable development goals.

Faliha, a five-month-old baby girl with bright eyes and a curious spirit, lives in the remote village of Akamodhu, nestled in the hills of Moulvibazar district, Rajnagar Upazila. Her parents, Jayna and Saifuddin, work tirelessly in the fields to sustain their family. Though Jayna had heard of vaccines, she was uncertain about how to access them and didn’t fully understand their importance. That changed one stormy day on June 4th, when Dr. Muttakin, a WHO Surveillance and Immunization Medical Officer, arrived in Akamodhu. At the time, the village was grappling with heavy rain and the looming threat of flooding. Despite these challenges, Dr. Muttakin's arrival brought a wave of hope. He was part of a mission to locate zero-dose and under-immunized children in remote areas and was focused on the detecting Vaccine Preventable Diseases. Accompanied by government supervisors, he toured the village to identify any children who had missed vaccination

Dr. Muttakin shared, " when I visit underprivileged communities, like those in tea gardens and haor areas, where I have to walk instead of drive, I feel a deeper connection with the people. In challenging times, during storms or floods, my presence reassures the villagers that they have not been forgotten. Seeing Faliha’s hopeful eyes strengthened my sense of responsibility to ensure she receives her vaccination."

As the team approached Faliha’s house, they found her happily playing with her toys. Jayna greeted Dr. Muttakin and his team with a warm smile. When asked about Faliha’s vaccination status, Jayna explained that her daughter had missed her vaccinations. she had initially been hesitant due to conflicting information from neighbors regarding the vaccine safety. However, Dr. Muttakin’s calm and confident demeanor reassured her. Looking at her daughter’s face, Jayna decided to visit the nearest vaccination site. "She discussed the decision with her husband, who requested to speak directly with Dr. Muttakin, the visitor from Moulvibazar." Dr. Muttakin listened to her husband patiently and explained the importance of vaccination. By the end of their conversion, Mr. Saifuuddin was convinced and agreed wholeheartedly to ensure his daughter received her vaccination.

At the immunization session, Dr. Muttakin and his team warmly welcomed Jayna and Faliha. With patience and empathy, Dr. Muttakin again listened to Jayna’s concerns about vaccinations, and explained their importance in simple clear terms. To help her better understand the risks of not vaccinating, He showed pictures of children affected by diseases such as measles and polio, contrasting these with images of healthy, vaccinated children. This visual demonstration made a strong impression on Jayna helping her fully grasp the benefits of immunization.

Jayna listened intently, her initial worries gradually giving way to understanding. She realized that vaccinating Faliha was not only about protecting her daughter but also about safeguarding the entire community. Moved by this newfound knowledge, she wholeheartedly agreed to get Faliha vaccinated with the BCG, along with the first doses of bOPV, IPV, PCV, and the Pentavalent vaccines. After the vaccination was completed, Jayna expressed her gratitude to Dr. Muttakin, saying, "Thank you for saving my daughter," and added, “And thank you for opening our eyes to the importance of these vaccines. We will never forget what you’ve done for us." Dr. Muttakin encouraged Jayna to share this message with her neighbors and relatives.

To ensure that Faliha receives all necessary vaccinations at the appropriate times, Jayna’s phone number was recorded for future follow-ups, providing continued support and care for Faliha’s health and well-being. Just like Dr. Muttakin, many other WHO Surveillance and Medical Officers (SIMO) are working with the Government and partners to improve child health and avert vaccine proventable disease, including through effective planning and monitoring of Immunization Programme and raising community awareness or dissplelling myths about vaccines.