Big Catch

CSOS BIG CATCH-UP EPI CAMPAIGN–PHASE III

The Hamdam Development Organization (HDO) successfully conducted the CSOs Big Catch-Up EPI Campaign–Phase III from July 14 to 26, 2025, with the support of the Health Department, District D.I. Khan and UNICEF Peshawar. The campaign was implemented across four Union Councils Kech, Korai, Miran and Draban Kalan in District Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The primary objective was to raise community awareness about the importance of completing the full routine immunization schedule, with a special focus on addressing vaccine refusal and reaching hard-to-access areas. This twelve-day campaign included a range of impactful activities such as daily mobile miking (public announcements), awareness walks, community engagement sessions and school/madrassa-based student sessions. The campaign’s success was made possible through the active involvement and coordination of the District Health Officer (DHO), the EPI team and committed community influencers and local volunteers.

Key Results:

  1. Awareness Walks: A total of 174 male community members participated and gained awareness about the importance of routine immunization through EPI.
  2. Community Engagement Sessions: 141 individuals (77 females and 64 males) including local community influencers, were sensitized about the EPI Campaign. Following the sessions, they actively supported EPI teams in their respective areas.
  3. School/Student Engagement Sessions (Madaris): A total of 172 participants (67 females and 105 males) including religious leaders and madrassa students were educated on the importance of immunization. They encouraged their communities to support EPI teams and helped disseminate vaccine messages through mosques and Friday sermons.
  4. Mobile Miking Campaigns: Mobile announcements were conducted across 04 targeted union councils, reaching an estimated 43,680 individuals (31,500 males and 12,180 females) with key messages on the importance of completing the full immunization schedule.
  5. Stakeholder Participation and Support: The Provincial Assembly Member, Assistant Commissioners, District Health Officer (DHO), EPI Coordinator, religious leaders, community influencers and media representatives actively participated in the activities and extended their support to the HDO team.
  6. Recovery of Missed Children: Through joint efforts of HDO and EPI teams, 180 missed children were reached during the campaign including:
    • 38 zero dose cases,
    • 55 refusal cases, and
    • 87 defaulter cases.
  7. Improvement in Red-Line UCs: With continued efforts under the ISD Project and repeated implementation of the CSOs Big Catch-Up EPI Campaign supported by UNICEF, 5 high-risk ‘red line’ Union Councils (out of 21 total in District D.I. Khan) have shown significant improvement, as reported by the District Health Officer (DHO), D.I. Khan.