Vaccines at Every Doorstep: A Mission of Hope
With funds from Japan, UNICEF is supporting vaccinators brave every challenge to protect children from Polio in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir.
In the remote village of Surgan, Pakistan-Administered Kashmir (PAK), accessing healthcare is an uphill battle. Located 150 kilometers north of Muzaffarabad in the heart of Neelum District, the village is surrounded by challenging mountains and harsh terrain. Heavy snowfall often isolates entire communities, making even basic medical care nearly impossible. With a population of over 15,000, Surgan struggles with diverse health challenges, relying on a single under-equipped Basic Health Unit.
Malnutrition is widespread, particularly among women and children, weakening their resilience to diseases like polio. In this vulnerable setting, robust vaccination coverage is vital to safeguard children from vaccine-preventable illnesses such as polio.
Musarrat, a dedicated community midwife and polio vaccinator, has been working tirelessly since 2020 to bridge this healthcare gap. She navigates steep mountain paths, crosses icy streams, and braves unpredictable weather to ensure that no child in her community misses their polio drops.
The 2025 Polio Campaign: Reaching Every Child
In the first polio vaccination campaign of 2025, a target of vaccinating 742,571 children was set for Pakistan-Administered Kashmir, including 38,000 in Neelum District and 3,375 in Surgan. Musarrat and her team of 23 health workers undertook a weeklong effort to vaccinate the target children under five years of age. Musarrat’s role extends beyond vaccination—she educates families about nutrition.
“As a mother myself, I see every child as my own. Their health and well-being matter to me just as much as my own children’s," Musarrat shares with quiet determination.
"The area we work in is incredibly challenging—it takes us 7 to 8 hours to reach our target households during the campaign because the population is scattered across rugged, mountainous terrain. Despite these hardships, my commitment remains unchanged. Every step I take through the snow and every door I knock on is for the dream of a healthier, polio-free future for the children in our area," Musarrat shares.
Community Trust: The Key to Successful Vaccination
Musarrat’s work is deeply appreciated. Gulzar Bibi, mother of five-year-old Safia Farooq, lives in a difficult-to-reach area but was confident Musarrat would arrive.
"We respect Musarrat and all health workers engaged in these polio vaccination campaigns for the safety of our children. It is not easy to navigate in heavy snow and harsh weather conditions, but our children are provided free and safe polio vaccinations at our doorstep," says Gulzar.
Community mobilization is a key part of these campaigns. Ghulam Muhammad, a respected community influencer and businessman, acknowledges the relentless dedication of health workers.
"As a community, we deeply value the commitment of polio teams and the support they receive to carry out this critical work. Their efforts go beyond just vaccination—they give our children a chance at a healthier future," he says.
A Healthier Future of Children
Thanks to Musarrat and her team’s commitment, the region consistently achieves high vaccination coverage. The district has maintained a 99% vaccination coverage rate for the last five years, well above the 95% benchmark, ensuring strong immunity against polio. "Musarrat is one of our most dedicated health workers. Thanks to efforts like hers, our area achieves 96% vaccination coverage during each campaign," says Union Council Medical Officer Faujdar Khan, Union Council Surgan, Neelum District, PAK.
With funding from the Government of Japan, essential polio vaccines are procured and distributed across Pakistan, reaching 45.4 million children annually including those in the most remote corners of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir.
No human polio case has been reported in PAK for the past 24 years. Maintaining this level of immunity through consistent immunization efforts remains vital to preventing a resurgence.
Musarrat’s dedication is an inspiring example of how grassroots health workers, with generous support from Japan, are ensuring that no child, no matter how remote, is left unprotected from polio. Through her perseverance, thousands of children now have a healthier, polio-free future.
