SEATTLE – Although vaccines are widely available in Pakistan, recent records have shown that only half of children are immunized. One of the most significant reasons for such statistics is the lack of awareness and information about vaccines and their benefits. This is where the Lady Health Workers come in.

In some cities, only males are trained to administer vaccinations, creating a barrier in a country like Pakistan that has societal customs limiting interaction between women and unfamiliar men. For this reason, Gavi, a nonprofit global health partnership, believes women are the key to promoting family healthcare.

To spark a revival in Pakistan’s immunization program, a team of over 100,000 female workers was trained to deliver basic health services in a door-to-door fashion. The program is implemented by The Global Health Workforce Alliance and the World Health Organization.

According to Gavi, “Child mortality rates remain high in Pakistan – more than 1,000 children die every day before celebrating their fifth birthday, and vaccine-preventable diseases account for half of these deaths.”

Lady Health Workers attend a six-month training course that helps combat preventable diseases like pneumonia, diarrhea, measles and meningitis by immunizing.

Having female frontline health care workers provides opportunities to discuss a range of maternal and child health topics, like contraception and breastfeeding, that could be uncomfortable to discuss with a man. Vaccination sessions can be a gateway to spreading awareness for other issues as well, such as nutrition, hygiene, and sanitation.

Lady Health Workers are well-trusted members in their society and garner respect for their role in health education. The program started out with only quasi-official rank, but has now achieved the status of salaried government employees critical to reaching children with immunization.

The women cover topics of hygiene, immunization, pre- and postnatal care, nutrition, family planning and the services available at nearby health centers, according to Gavi, and try to begin this education when females are of child-bearing age.

The Global Health Workforce Alliance continues to bring worldwide attention to the human resources for health crisis by partnering with national governments, international agencies, civil society, finance institutions, researchers, educators and professional associations.

Sources: Gavi, Global Health Workforce Alliance

Photo: Flickr