Puppets help win hearts for polio vaccination in Quetta – Global Polio Eradication

Report on Community Engagement for Polio Eradication in Quetta, Pakistan: A Sustainable Development Goals Perspective

Introduction: Aligning Health Initiatives with Global Goals

An innovative public health initiative, the Polio Caravan Puppet Show, was implemented in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan, on World Polio Day. This program utilized creative communication to advance polio eradication efforts, directly contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). By transforming public spaces into educational venues, the initiative effectively engaged children and parents, promoting vaccination and hygiene while simultaneously supporting SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Program Objectives and Methodology

The mobile puppet show was conceptualized by the provincial Polio Social and Behavior Change (SBC) team in collaboration with the Communication Task Team and the Balochistan Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The primary objectives were strategically aligned with key SDG targets:

1. To disseminate critical information regarding polio vaccination and routine immunization, directly addressing targets within SDG 3.
2. To promote essential hygiene practices, including cleanliness and handwashing, in support of SDG 6.
3. To overcome barriers to healthcare access, such as vaccine hesitancy, by building community trust, thereby advancing SDG 10.
4. To deliver health education in an accessible and engaging format for children, contributing to lifelong learning principles outlined in SDG 4.

The methodology involved using a mobile stage with puppets, music, and humor to simplify and deliver serious health messages in a joyful and relatable manner for community members, especially children.

Key Outcomes and Impact on Health and Well-being

The initiative yielded significant positive results, demonstrating the efficacy of community-based engagement in achieving public health objectives.

• Increased Vaccine Uptake: The program served as a catalyst for immediate health action. Within 30 minutes of the performances across six sites in high-risk areas, over 200 children received polio drops.
• Overcoming Vaccine Hesitancy: The engaging and non-confrontational approach successfully persuaded previously hesitant parents to vaccinate their children, a critical step in achieving universal immunization coverage and supporting SDG 3.
• Enhanced Community Engagement: The event was met with widespread enthusiasm from children and parents, fostering a positive relationship between the community and health workers. This trust is fundamental to the long-term success of the polio eradication program.
• Effective Health Education: Children demonstrated a clear understanding of the health messages, indicating the success of the puppet show as an educational tool that supports SDG 4.

Strengthening Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

The success of the Polio Caravan and the broader eradication effort in Pakistan and Afghanistan is a testament to the power of multi-stakeholder collaboration, a core principle of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The program’s execution was a result of coordinated efforts between provincial health authorities and UNICEF. Furthermore, the sustained campaign to make the world polio-free relies on critical support from a coalition of international partners, including:

• Canada
• Japan
• The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Germany
• KSRelief
• Rotary International
• The United Arab Emirates

Conclusion

The Polio Caravan Puppet Show in Quetta serves as an exemplary model of how creative, community-centric initiatives can effectively advance public health goals and contribute to multiple SDGs. By merging entertainment with education and immediate health service delivery, the program successfully bridged communication gaps, increased vaccination rates, and strengthened community trust. As stated by the Provincial EOC Coordinator, Inam-ul-Haque, such engaging activities are critical for the health and well-being of all children. These efforts are vital in the final push towards achieving a polio-free world, a landmark achievement for SDG 3.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article highlights issues and initiatives that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus on health and vaccination aligns with SDG 3, while the methods used for education and the partnerships involved connect to other goals.

   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: This is the most prominent SDG addressed. The entire article revolves around the effort to eradicate polio through vaccination campaigns, promote routine immunization, and ensure the health of children in Pakistan.
   • SDG 4: Quality Education: The article describes an innovative educational approach. The Polio Caravan Puppet Show is used as a tool to “spread accurate information” and make “serious health lessons simple and joyful for children and parents alike,” which relates to providing accessible and effective education.
   • SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The initiative goes beyond just polio, as the puppet show also teaches about “cleanliness, and handwashing.” This directly addresses the hygiene aspect of SDG 6.
   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The success of the program is attributed to collaboration. The article mentions the involvement of the “provincial Polio SBC team,” the “Communication Task Team,” the “Balochistan Emergency Operations Center (EOC),” and “critical support from committed partners like Canada, Japan, Gates Foundation, Germany, KSRelief, Rotary International and the UAE.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the activities and goals described, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

   • Target 3.2: End preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age. The polio vaccination campaign is a direct effort to prevent a disease that can cause severe disability and death in young children, thus contributing to this target.
   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including access to essential medicines and vaccines for all. The article highlights the success of the program in providing polio drops to over 200 children, including “many from families that had previously refused vaccination,” demonstrating an effort to achieve universal vaccine coverage.
   • Target 3.b: Support the research and development of vaccines and provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines. The article’s focus on delivering polio drops and the stated goal of achieving a “polio free world” directly support this target by ensuring vaccine access in one of the last two endemic countries.
   • Target 4.7: Ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including through education for health and well-being. The puppet show serves as an educational tool to impart knowledge on “polio vaccination, routine immunization, cleanliness, and handwashing,” as demonstrated by children like Rehan who could explain how polio spreads.
   • Target 6.2: Achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all. The program’s inclusion of messages on “cleanliness, and handwashing” directly promotes hygiene practices, which is a core component of this target.
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article explicitly lists a wide range of partners, including government bodies (EOC), UN agencies (UNICEF), international governments (Canada, Japan, Germany), and private/civil society organizations (Gates Foundation, Rotary International), showcasing a multi-stakeholder partnership in action.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   The article provides both direct and indirect indicators that can be used to measure progress:

   • Indicator for Target 3.8/3.b (Proportion of population covered by essential vaccines): The article provides a direct quantitative indicator by stating that “within 30 minutes of the show, more than 200 children received polio drops.” It also offers a qualitative indicator of progress by noting that the initiative successfully reached “families that had previously refused vaccination,” thereby increasing vaccine coverage among hesitant populations.
   • Indicator for Target 4.7 (Extent to which education for health and well-being is mainstreamed): The article implies this through anecdotal evidence. Children’s responses, such as Rehan stating, “Polio spreads when we don’t take drops!” and Najeeba saying, “I won because I was neat and clean and told everyone about washing hands!” serve as indicators that the educational messages were successfully received and understood.
   • Indicator for Target 17.17 (Effectiveness of multi-stakeholder partnerships): The success of the event itself is an indicator of an effective partnership. The article attributes the program’s success to the collaboration between local teams and the “critical support from committed partners,” implying that the partnership is effectively mobilizing resources and expertise to achieve a common goal. The father’s final statement, “Our door will always be open for the polio vaccination team,” indicates a change in community trust, a key outcome of the partnership’s work.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: polioeradication.org