Enrich Sindh Community Project-DUHS

04/06/2026

On 2nd June 2026, under the ENRICH programme agenda, a community awareness session was organized in UC 7 of Landhi Town. The session was conducted by Dr. Faryal at a local household and specifically targeted mothers and caretakers of children under two years of age. The purpose of this gathering was to strengthen knowledge and practices around childhood nutrition and immunization, both of which are critical pillars in ensuring healthy growth and disease prevention during early childhood.
During the session, Dr. Faryal emphasized the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by the introduction of complementary foods rich in essential nutrients. She explained how proper nutrition supports physical and cognitive development, and highlighted the role of micronutrients in building immunity. Alongside nutrition, the discussion focused on the significance of timely immunization, with reminders about adhering to the national vaccination schedule to protect children from preventable diseases.
The mothers and caretakers actively participated, sharing their own experiences and asking questions about feeding practices and vaccination concerns. This interactive exchange helped clarify misconceptions and reinforced the importance of preventive health measures. The session also fostered stronger community engagement, building trust between healthcare providers and families in UC 7.
As an outcome, participants left with a clearer understanding of the link between nutrition and immunity, and a renewed commitment to completing immunization schedules for their children. The session contributed to strengthening the ENRICH programme’s goal of promoting early childhood health and development in underserved communities. Continued awareness activities of this nature are recommended to sustain the positive impact and extend outreach to other union councils in Landhi Town.

31/05/2026

On 22nd May 2026, Under the ENRICH Sindh Project, a community engagement activity was conducted by Dr. Faryal Nawab in Union Councils (UCs) 3 and 4 of Landhi Town, Karachi, to support efforts aimed at improving routine childhood immunization coverage and reducing the number of zero-dose children. The activity focused on engaging key community stakeholders and strengthening local partnerships to promote vaccine acceptance and uptake among underserved populations.

During the field visit, Dr. Faryal Nawab met with multiple stakeholders, including healthcare providers, religious scholars, political workers, social media influencers, and other community representatives. Discussions centered on the importance of routine childhood immunization, the public health risks associated with missed vaccinations, and the challenges contributing to vaccine hesitancy. Stakeholders were encouraged to play an active role in identifying and referring zero-dose children and in disseminating accurate information regarding childhood vaccines within their communities.

The engagement received a positive response from all stakeholder groups, who expressed their commitment to supporting future immunization activities under the ENRICH Sindh Project. Healthcare providers agreed to promote vaccination among caregivers, while religious and community leaders pledged to advocate for immunization through their respective platforms. The activity strengthened community ownership and reinforced the importance of a collaborative, community-driven approach for increasing immunization coverage and reaching zero-dose children in Landhi Town.

30/05/2026

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19/05/2026

16/05/2026

The ENRICH PROJECT team convened a meeting in SUJAWAL on Tuesday, 12th May. The meeting was organized between Sujawal district officials and Enrich team members to formally initiate the project and establish consultative engagement with key stakeholders. It was attended by DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SUJAWAL, MR. ZAHID HUSSAIN RIND, SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE SUJAWAL, MS. ELEENA RAJPER, and the CHAIRMAN OF SUJAWAL. From the School of Public Health, Ms. Nadia Shah, Dr. Omair Adil and Ms. Ayesha Khalid participated actively, taking the lead in coordinating the session and ensuring meaningful engagement with focal persons.

The agenda centered on consultations with district officials to lay the groundwork for the project’s launch, ensuring alignment with local governance and security priorities. These discussions provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities within the district and helped establish a shared understanding of the project’s objectives.

A major focus of the meeting was understanding the geographical and social context of Sujawal, particularly the flood‑affected areas. Security considerations were highlighted, with emphasis on ensuring safe and effective implementation of project activities. The dialogue underscored the importance of coordinated efforts between administrative and law enforcement bodies to support the project’s success.

Additionally, a field office for ENRICH was identified in Taluka Jati. This location was recognized as strategic for serving the community and strengthening resilience in flood‑affected areas. It was further emphasized that collaboration with district officials will be highly effective once the community project begins in Sujawal. Taking the officials into the loop will ensure smoother implementation, better security coordination, and stronger community trust. This approach will help align project activities with local governance structures and maximize long‑term sustainability.

11/05/2026

The District Emergency Operations Center (DEOC) East, under the leadership of Mr. Nasrullah Abbasi, successfully organized an awareness session on the upcoming Polio Booster Campaign (fIPV+OPV) at Dow International Medical College, OJHA campus, hospital building on 9th May 2026. The session convened medical professionals, public health experts, and stakeholders to deliberate on the persistent circulation of poliovirus in Karachi Division and the strategic interventions designed to interrupt transmission.

We are pleased to highlight that the ENRICH team actively attended this session, engaging with the technical presentations and discussions. Their participation provided them with valuable insights into the campaign’s objectives, target populations, and operational framework. Importantly, the session also enabled the ENRICH team to identify potential cases across various regions of Sindh, including vulnerable slum areas, thereby strengthening their capacity to support surveillance and targeted interventions.

The knowledge gained will directly enhance their study provision, allowing them to align their research and technical support with the broader immunization strategy being implemented across 89 high-risk Union Councils of Karachi Division. The session emphasized the dual approach of administering OPV to ~1.9M children aged 0–10 years and fIPV to ~1.8M children aged 4 months–10 years, reinforcing both mucosal and humoral immunity.

This collaboration underscores the shared commitment of academic institutions, technical partners, and public health authorities to achieve a polio-free Karachi and Sindh. The ENRICH team’s involvement in the session is a testament to the value of cross-sector engagement in strengthening immunization efforts, enhancing case identification in underserved communities, and advancing evidence-based interventions.

30/04/2026

The School of Public Health, Dow University of Health Sciences, organized a comprehensive Immunization Week awareness programme with Government school teachers at the Dow Community Centre, Landhi on 30th April, 2026. The event was held Under the guidance of Prof Dr. Kashif Shafique, Principal of the School of Public Health, and Dr. Samrah Abid Malik, Director of BSPH. The session was given by Dr. Summaiya Waseem, Lecturer at the School of Public Health, with support from Mr. Salman, Administrator. Teachers from primary and secondary government school were the target audience, recognizing their vital role in delivering health messages to students, parents, and families.

The program opened with an introduction by Dr. Summaiya, welcoming teachers and explaining the purpose of Immunization Week. She highlighted the role of schools in promoting vaccination and shared an impactful statistic on the reduction of polio cases due to vaccines. This set the stage for the interactive discussion that followed, where public health lecturers and students presented ten core messages about immunization, including the safety of vaccines, the importance of herd immunity, and the role of teachers as trusted voices in their communities.

Building on these key learning points, students facilitated a practical guidance segment that emphasized collaboration between teachers and Lady Health Workers (LHWs). Teachers were encouraged to share accurate information in classrooms, motivate parents to complete vaccination schedules, and support students in understanding the importance of vaccines. The role of LHWs was also highlighted, explaining their home visits, their ability to accompany families to vaccination centers, and the need for teachers to connect parents with LHWs to ensure no child is left behind.

The session concluded with a wrap-up and call to action, summarizing the ten takeaway messages and distributing a Teacher’s Immunization Guide handout. An interactive activity on myths and facts about vaccination encouraged open dialogue, while challenges faced by LHWs in linking schools with communities were discussed. Students also participated, gaining valuable insights into how promotional activities are conducted and why they are essential for building healthier communities.

22/04/2026

The School of Public Health, Dow University of Health Sciences, organized a comprehensive Oral Health Day awareness programme on April 22, 2026, at the Dow Community Centre, Landhi. The event was held under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Kashif Shafique, Principal, School of Public Health, and led by Dr. Samra Abid Malik, Program Director BSPH, with active support from Lecturer Dr. Summaiya Waseem, students, and internees.

The programme welcomed students from local government schools and aimed to promote oral hygiene and healthy lifestyle practices from a public health perspective. The session began with an introductory awareness talk by Dr. Samra Abid Malik, followed by an engaging presentation by Dr. Summaiya Waseem on the importance of healthy eating and oral hygiene.

To reinforce learning through interactive activities, the event featured a coloring competition, oral health quizzes, and live demonstrations using dental models to teach proper brushing techniques. A dental check‑up camp was also conducted, where children received screening and were referred to local dental hospitals for further care when needed. Each student took home screening notes, activity sheet, and a toothbrush as a practical reminder to maintain proper oral hygiene.

The initiative successfully combined education with fun, ensuring that children not only enjoyed the day but also carried home a strong message about the importance of oral health. The programme highlighted the School of Public Health’s commitment to community engagement and preventive health education, fostering awareness among young students about the lifelong value of oral hygiene.

17/04/2026

On 16th April 2026, a teachers’ awareness session on autism was conducted in the Landhi region under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Kashif Shafique, Principal, School of Public Health, DUHS. The initiative functioned both as a structured training workshop and a feasibility study aimed at equipping teachers with foundational knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and enabling them to translate this understanding into practical classroom strategies.

The programme was led by Programme Director BSPH Dr. Samra Abid Malik, who designed and delivered the workshop through two integrated components: an information module and a practical training module. The sessions emphasized key aspects of ASD, including communication challenges, sensory sensitivities, and behavior patterns, with a strong focus on the application of the ABC (Antecedent–Behavior–Consequence) model to support classroom management. Teachers were guided on implementing structured routines, using visual supports, applying positive reinforcement, and adopting gradual food introduction techniques for children with sensory-related feeding difficulties.

Dr. Summaiya Waseem contributed specialized input on nutritional strategies and provided guidance on managing the needs of siblings of children with autism within the same school environment, highlighting the importance of inclusive and sensitive approaches.

The BSPH students played an active and well-coordinated role, having been trained in advance to manage various operational aspects of the workshop. Their responsibilities included participant registration, facilitation of interactive activities, and administration of pre- and post-test assessments as well as feedback surveys. The event was further supported by Mr. Ahsan, who ensured smooth technical and logistical operations throughout the session.

Overall, the workshop served as a meaningful learning experience for all stakeholders involved. Teachers enhanced their capacity to recognize early signs of autism and implement supportive strategies; BSPH students gained valuable hands-on field exposure; and DUHS strengthened its engagement with the community as part of the ENRICH Project.

13/04/2026

Bachelor of Science in Public Health( BSPH) and Bachelor of Science in Nutrition (BSN) students from School of Public Health visited the Dow Community Centre in Landhi on April 13th for an impactful educational session. The program was designed to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world application, focusing on the vital role of hand hygiene within the broader context of public health. Throughout the day, students explored not only the technical steps of proper handwashing but also the future challenges and strategic directions required for effective health promotion in diverse community settings.
The first half of the session was led by Dr. Summaiya Waseem and Ms. Huda Jaffery, who provided a comprehensive introduction to the topic. They shifted the focus from simple personal cleanliness to a professional public health perspective, explaining how hygiene interventions serve as a primary defense against disease outbreaks. This theoretical foundation prepared the students to think critically about how small behavioral changes can lead to significant community-wide health improvements.
The second half of the program shifted toward interactive and collaborative learning. Students from both programs were divided into groups to design educational posters, allowing them to practice translating complex health information into accessible community messages. The visit concluded with a competitive quiz to reinforce the day's key takeaways. This hands-on experience is expected to be a cornerstone for the students' career progression, equipping them with the practical communication and promotion skills necessary for their future lives as public health and nutrition professionals.