Saeed Anwar
Riphah International University
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The Lancet Global Health | 2017
Muhammad Atif Habib; Sajid Soofi; Simon Cousens; Saeed Anwar; Najib ul Haque; Imran Ahmed; Noshad Ali; Rehman Tahir; Zulfiqar A. Bhutta
Summary Background Pakistan faces huge challenges in eradicating polio due to widespread poliovirus transmission and security challenges. Innovative interventions are urgently needed to strengthen community buy-in, to increase the coverage of oral polio vaccine (OPV) and other routine immunisations, and to enhance immunity through the introduction of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in combination with OPV. We aimed to evaluate the acceptability and effect on immunisation coverage of an integrated strategy for community engagement and maternal and child health immunisation campaigns in insecure and conflict-affected polio-endemic districts of Pakistan. Methods We did a community-based three-arm cluster randomised trial in healthy children aged 1 month to 5 years that resided within the study sites in three districts of Pakistan at high risk of polio. Clusters were randomly assigned by a computer algorithm using restricted randomisation in blocks of 20 by an external statistician (1:1:1) to receive routine polio programme activities (control, arm A), additional interventions with community outreach and mobilisation using an enhanced communication package and provision of short-term preventive maternal and child health services and routine immunisation (health camps), including OPV (arm B), or all interventions of arm B with additional provision of IPV delivered at the maternal and child health camps (arm C). An independent team conducted surveys at baseline, endline, and after each round of supplementary immunisation activity for acceptability and effect. The primary outcome measures for the study were coverage of OPV, IPV, and routine extended programme on immunisation vaccines and changes in the proportion of unvaccinated and fully vaccinated children. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01908114. Findings Between June 4, 2013, and May 31, 2014, 387 clusters were randomised (131 to arm A, 127 to arm B, and 129 to arm C). At baseline, 28 760 children younger than 5 years were recorded in arm A, 30 098 in arm B, and 29 126 in arm C. 359 clusters remained in the trial until the end (116 in arm A, 120 in arm B, and 123 in arm C; with 23 334 children younger than 5 years in arm A, 26 110 in arm B, and 25 745 in arm C). The estimated OPV coverage was 75% in arm A compared with 82% in arm B (difference vs arm A 6·6%; 95% CI 4·8–8·3) and 84% in arm C (8·5%, 6·8–10·1; overall p<0·0001). The mean proportion of routine vaccine doses received by children younger than 24 months of age was 43% in arm A, 52% in arm B (9%, 7–11) and 54% in arm C (11%, 9–13; overall p<0·0001). No serious adverse events requiring hospitalisation were reported after immunisation. Interpretation Despite the challenges associated with the polio end-game in high-risk, conflict-affected areas of Pakistan, a strategy of community mobilisation and targeted community-based health and immunisation camps during polio immunisation campaigns was successful in increasing vaccine coverage, including polio vaccine coverage. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Journal of Public Health Policy | 2017
Muhammad Atif Habib; Sajid Soofi; Noshad Ali; Imtiaz Hussain; Farhana Tabassum; Zamir Suhag; Saeed Anwar; Imran Ahmed; Zulfiqar A. Bhutta
Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where polio is endemic, and Pakistan reports the most cases in the world. Although the rate is lower than in previous years, the situation remains alarming. We conducted a mixed methods study in high-risk areas of Pakistan to identify knowledge, attitudes, and practices of target populations about polio vaccine and its eradication, and to estimate coverage of routine immunization and oral polio vaccine. We surveyed 10,685 households in Karachi, 2522 in Pishin, and 2005 in Bajaur. Some knowledge of polio is universal, but important misconceptions persist. The findings of this study carry strategic importance for program direction and implementation.
Vaccine | 2018
Umair Qazi; Sidra Malik; Usman Ahmad Raza; Maryam Saad; Muhammad Fazal Zeeshan; Saeed Anwar
The importance of childhood immunization in prevention of highly fatal diseases and disability cannot be overemphasized. Pakistan has a national Expanded Program on Immunization but the compliance is far below the international benchmark for achieving a herd immunity. Monitoring the compliance to timely receipt of vaccinations is crucial to establishing and preventing disease and disability associated risk in children. There is little or no evidence that reports the timeliness of the vaccinations according to the EPI schedule in Peshawar. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate rate of Fully Immunized Children and to report compliance to the timeliness of vaccine specific schedule during the study period in the EPI center in the capital city of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. We collected consecutive retrospective data of the infants enrolled from June 2014 to December 2015 in one EPI center for our study. Out of the total 157 (n) children, fully immunized children (FIC) were 62 (39.5%) and only 19 (12.1%) were FIC with timely visits. Dropouts increased with successive vaccinations with highest for Measles 1 (42%). On-time vaccinations decreased over time, while the proportion of children receiving vaccination outside the ideal window period reaches as high as 46%. The study reports a low compliance to EPI schedule, and also highlights that immunization coverage is not a good indicator of age appropriate vaccinations.
Rawal Medical Journal | 2007
Mohammad Hussain Khan; Rasheed Hassan; Saeed Anwar; Tariq Sohail Babar; Khalid Shakeel Babar
Gomal Journal of Medical Sciences | 2004
Iftikhar Ahmad; Sardar Bahadur Khan; Hafeez ur Rehman; Muhammad Hussain Khan; Saeed Anwar
Gomal Journal of Medical Sciences | 2004
Mohammad Hussain Khan; Naseem Saba; Saeed Anwar; Najma Baseer; Sameea Syed
Gomal Journal of Medical Sciences | 2004
Muhammad Hussain Khan; Syed Humayun Shah; Ghulam Sarwar; Saeed Anwar; Ghazala Bashir; Nazia Gul; Jehanzeb Begum
Journal of Postgraduate Medical Institute | 2011
Muhammad Irfan; Saeed Anwar; Usman Ahmed Raza; Mehran Qayum
Jcpsp-journal of The College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan | 2011
Mehran Qayum; Saeed Anwar; Usman Ahmad Raza; Qayum E; Nosheen Qayum; Fatima Qayum
Archive | 2007
Maham Khan; S. Humayun Shah; Naseem Saba; Saeed Anwar; Iftikhar Ahmad; Khalid Shakeel Babar; Maria Afifa; Beenish Gul; Dilawar Khan