Online mobilisers to push vaccination

Move aimed at countering misinformation regarding polio

LAHORE:

The Punjab Emergency Operation Centre is set to launch an online campaign to help eradicate poliovirus from the province.

The campaign will be launched in Lahore and other districts under an online global strategy in the coming weeks.

The emergency operation centre has decided to take help of online social mobilisers to spread awareness about polio vaccination and the disease.

According to sources, the Punjab Emergency Operation Centre will solicit the services of top social mobilisers to dispel misinformation about the vaccination, disease and health issues. The decision had been taken because misinformation and propaganda about the vaccination and disease on social media were confusing the public.

Although Punjab has been polio-free for the past three years, the threat of polio persists.

Especially the detection of wild poliovirus last year in environmental samples from Gulshan-e-Ravi in Lahore left the Punjab government, health department and related officials concerned.

After the development, several major anti-polio campaigns were launched, but it has been evident that still area instances of denial in some areas amidst misinformation regarding polio vaccination, especially on social media.

In view of the situation, the departments concerned are focusing on strategies to counter the misinformation. For the first time, the focus will also be on online awareness to eradicate polio.

In this regard, an event was organised in Lahore under the UInfluencers umbrella. The initiative, supported by a network of social media influencers, aimed to tackle health-related misinformation, particularly that concerning polio vaccination.

According to a statement, with a turnout of over 10,000 volunteers from the country, UInfluencers emerged as a powerful advocate to promote children's health and immunisation across digital platforms.

The event marked a milestone as it transitioned from the digital realm to a physical gathering, bringing together 36 online volunteers from the outskirts of Lahore. The young individuals, representing a cross-section of society, immersed themselves in the realities of polio vaccination through hands-on experiences and informative presentations.

The online social mobilisers also visited the Lahore Railway Station for a firsthand look at the dedicated efforts of health workers vaccinating the children. They learned about the scale of the campaign, with approximately 20,000 children vaccinated each day during the period.

Online social mobilisers Muneeza, Saeeda Kanwal and Abdullah expressed appreciation for the crucial contributions of health workers and the significance of vaccination.

"Witnessing the dedication of health workers was a profound experience that deepened my respect for them," Muneeza said.

Saeeda Kanwal, reflecting on her 25 years in Lahore, acknowledged the importance of raising awareness about the polio programme, stating, "We all share the responsibility to spread this information among our communities."

Abdullah, hailing from Pakpattan, highlighted the importance of addressing community misconceptions about the polio vaccine, empowered by his newfound understanding of the issue.

The participants actively posted in support of polio vaccination and its authenticity. A digital media influencer, Momin Saqib, emphasised the power of social media in spreading positive information.

The Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, Dr Shahzad Baig, underscored the importance of community engagement and accurate information dissemination in dispelling myths and misconceptions about polio vaccination.

Ayesha, a polio survivor and health worker, shared her inspiring story, reinforcing the importance of vaccination in preventing the spread of the disease.

"We earlier had the services of the social mobilisers who were doing a wonderful job during our fight against polio. But it is also right that there is misinformation in the society and for this purpose now we are getting the service of the online social mobilisers to play their effective role to counter misinformation,” said Punjab Emergency Operation Centre spokesman Wasif Butt.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 1^st, 2024.