RAWALPINDI: The Punjab Polio Programme and the Pakistan Girl Guides Association have launched a joint initiative to promote accurate information about polio, counter misinformation and strengthen community awareness to protect children from the disease.

As part of the initiative, nearly 300 Girl Guide volunteers from across Punjab have received specialised training on polio, identifying and addressing vaccine misinformation, communicating accurate health information, and engaging communities effectively.

The trained volunteers will now conduct awareness sessions in schools, colleges, and local communities, encouraging parents and caregivers to ensure that every child receives polio vaccine during every vaccination campaign.

The initiative recognises the important role young people can play in promoting healthy behaviours and building confidence in lifesaving vaccines. By engaging their peers, families and communities, the Girl Guides will serve as trusted ambassadors, helping to ensure that factual information reaches households and contributes to protecting every child from poliovirus.

The partnership builds on the Pakistan Girl Guides Association’s longstanding tradition of community service and volunteerism. For decades, Girl Guides have been at the forefront of humanitarian response across Pakistan, supporting relief and recovery efforts during major earthquakes, floods and other national emergencies. Their trusted presence within communities makes them well placed to promote lifesaving health messages and help families make informed decisions for their children’s wellbeing.

By engaging their peers, families and neighbourhoods, the Girl Guides will serve as polio ambassadors and digital champions, helping to dispel myths, counter misinformation and ensure that credible information reaches households, particularly mothers and caregivers who play a vital role in decisions about childhood immunization.

According to the Punjab Emergency Operations Centre, all environmental surveillance samples collected across the province are currently testing negative for poliovirus, reflecting the significant progress made in interrupting virus transmission.

However, health authorities stated that these gains can only be sustained through continued vigilance, strong community engagement, and ensuring that every eligible child is vaccinated during every polio campaign to prevent the virus from returning.

Officials from the Punjab Polio Programme at an event said involving young volunteers, particularly Girl Guides, would help take positive and accurate messages about polio directly into communities, especially to mothers and caregivers who make critical decisions about their children’s health.

They noted that empowered young volunteers can effectively address misconceptions about vaccines and encourage families to continue participating in vaccination campaigns.

Representatives of the Pakistan Girl Guides Association reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the national effort to eradicate polio, stating that Girl Guides will continue serving as ambassadors for positive change and work alongside communities to help ensure that every child is protected.

The Punjab Polio Programme urged all parents to vaccinate every child under the age of five during every polio campaign. Repeated doses of the oral polio vaccine remain essential to building immunity and ensuring that Pakistan becomes permanently free of poliovirus.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2026