In Gujro Zone B, Jhangabad, and Gana Mandi, mistrust of vaccines ran deep. Families, guided by tradition and rumours, rejected immunization efforts. Sumaira Zulfiqar, a vaccinator from VITAL Pakistan Trust, was repeatedly turned away—but she didn’t give up. Instead of insisting, she listened. Sumaira attended gatherings, spoke with community leaders, and built trust through empathy. When a grieving mother shared her story of losing a child to measles, minds began to shift. With support from a local midwife and religious leader, the community slowly embraced vaccines. immunization coverage rose from 0% to 80%, with parents becoming advocates themselves. Sumaira’s story is a powerful reminder: trust, compassion, and patience can transform fear into hope and build healthier futures for all.

In Gujro, a densely populated area near Karachi, preventable diseases like measles and pneumonia were once common. Fozia, a young mother, had never heard of the free Expanded Programme on immunization (EPI) and was unaware of the protection vaccines could offer her newborn daughter, Asiya. That changed when a VITAL Pakistan Trust vaccinator visited her home, patiently explaining the safety and importance of immunization. Encouraged, Fozia brought Asiya to the nearest EPI centre. As Asiya grew healthier, Fozia began encouraging other mothers to do the same. Thanks to VPT’s outreach and the EPI programme, vaccine awareness in Gujro is growing—and so is hope. Fozia’s story shows how one informed choice can spark a healthier future for an entire community.

In Gujro Zone B, Jhangabad, and Gana Mandi, mistrust of vaccines ran deep. Families, guided by tradition and rumours, rejected immunization efforts. Sumaira Zulfiqar, a vaccinator from VITAL Pakistan Trust, was repeatedly turned away—but she didn’t give up. Instead of insisting, she listened. Sumaira attended gatherings, spoke with community leaders, and built trust through empathy. When a grieving mother shared her story of losing a child to measles, minds began to shift. With support from a local midwife and religious leader, the community slowly embraced vaccines. immunization coverage rose from 0% to 80%, with parents becoming advocates themselves. Sumaira’s story is a powerful reminder: trust, compassion, and patience can transform fear into hope and build healthier futures for all.