Quetta special report by Hasan Hasrat….“I am happy that my grandson is vaccinated within hours of birth. The vaccines will protect him against diseases”, says Razia Bibi grandmother in Bolan Medical Complex (BMC) Hospital, quetta.
Swaddled in a small blanket and wearing traditional baby attire the newborn baby boy (yet to be named) is comforted by his grandmother after the birth dose vaccination shots.
In Balochistan, many babies miss vaccination at birth because of limited vaccination timings in maternity hospitals putting them at risk of deadly vaccine-preventable diseases.
UNICEF in collaboration with the provincial health department and with support from KSrelief, has established 24/7 Birth Dose Centres close to labour rooms in three maternity hospitals in Quetta to boost vaccination coverage before newborns are discharged home from medical centres. Born on 4 September, 2024, the grandson of Razia Bibi received his vaccines soon after delivery, at a 24/7 Birth Dose Centre in BMC Hospital.
“I am happy that my grandson is vaccinated within hours of birth. The vaccines will protect him against diseases
Razia Bibi (Right) is helping vaccinator Aliya Bibi (Left) to immunize her newborn grandson in the Birth Dose Centre at Bolan Medica Complex Hospital, Quetta, Balochistan.
“Vaccines secure the health of children against diseases. It is very convenient that a vaccination facility is now available next to the labour room. If this service was not available here, it would have been difficult for us to take the newborn to another vaccination centre,” says Razia Bibi.
Halima (30) and Khan Muhmmad (25) are the proud parents of the baby boy and this is their second child.
“My son Khan Muhmmad is a labourer. He is overjoyed at the birth of his son. He cannot wait to see the baby. We are now taking the newborn home,” explains Razia Bibi.
The Birth Dose Centres are operational around the clock. The staff work in three shifts providing vaccination services to newborns shortly after they are delivered.
“We work closely with the labour room staff and gynecologist and counsel parents about the importance of vaccinating newborn babies at birth,” says Aliya Bibi, an expert vaccinator at the BMC Birth Dose Centre who vaccinated the grandson of Razia Bibi.
In the past, even when vaccines were available, many newborns remained unvaccinated because of cultural norms that prevent newly born babies being seen by strangers.
“Initially it was a challenge to vaccinate newborns but now we have created enough awareness and parents and grandparents now easily agree to vaccination,” elaborates Aliya.
Dr. Mohmmad Amiri, Child Survival and Development Specialist UNICEF Pakistan, is vaccinating newborn grandson of Razia Bibi, in the Birth Dose Centre at Bolan Medica Complex Hospital, Quetta, Balochistan.
The hard work by the vaccinators has paid off. Now parents who delivered their babies at home are bringing them for vaccination at the 24/7 Birth Dose Centre.
Thanks to funding from King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), UNICEF is supporting three Birth Dose Centres by providing the required human resources, capacity building and equipment. The three hospitals are BMC, Mission Hospital and Sandeman Provincial Hospital in Quetta.
Aliya Bibi is one of the 12 vaccinators hired and trained to vaccinate newborns within six hours of delivery, in the 24/7 Birth Dose Centre.
In June 2024 a refresher training was conducted for these vaccinators, on cold chain management, vaccination techniques, counselling of mothers and Adverse Effects Following Immunization (AEFI) management.
“The training was helpful in reinforcing our learning and now we apply these skills in vaccinating newborns,” says Aliya.
“We vaccinate babies with OPV, BCG and HB at birth, to protect them from polio, TB and Hepatitis B. The good thing about my job is that I am protecting the future generation from deadly diseases.”
“We work closely with the labour room staff and gynecologist and counsel parents about the importance of vaccinating newborn babies at birth,”
Aliya Bibi – Expert Vaccinator
The vaccinator prepares Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) vaccination cards for newborns and enters the baby’s data in the National Electronic Immunization Registry (NEIR). A bar code is created and pasted on the vaccination card which can help in tracing the vaccination history of the baby anywhere in the country.
In Quetta, vaccination coverage of newborns in the hospitals with the Birth Dose Centres has reached 96 per cent which is a huge increase compared to the 8 per cent vaccination coverage prior to the establishment of the centres.
“The 24/7 Birth Dose Vaccination Centres are a breakthrough, ensuring the immunization of every newborn with life-saving vaccines, immediately after birth,” says Dr. Mohmmad Amiri, Child Survival and Development Specialist with UNICEF Pakistan.
“By bringing vaccination close to labour rooms, we are reducing the number of zero-dose children and protecting more babies from vaccine-preventable diseases. This approach is a critical step in safeguarding the health of newborns in Balochistan.”
