Acute Bacterial Meningitis (ABM) is a serious public health problem demanding prevention, early diagnosis, effective treatment, and control. Pakistan introduced the Meningitis vaccine as part of the Expanded Programme on Immunization in 2009.

Time and Space coordinated with the Primary and Secondary Health care department to design a comprehensive public awareness campaign to improve public understanding of meningitis. The general hindrance in the vaccination courses exists because parents feel reluctant to get their kids vaccinated mainly because of their paradoxical beliefs. The campaign focused on educating parents about the significance of vaccination against meningitis.

In coordination with the Primary and Secondary Health care, we produced documentaries focusing to raising disease awareness, underscoring the importance of prevention through vaccination and improving support for those dealing with the potentially devastating consequences of the disease. We included testimonials of parents of affected children. The documentaries also highlighted the health facilities to raise awareness about the rural health centers and Basic Health Units. These health centers facilitate parents to ease the process of vaccination courses for them.

In rural areas, we reached out to the teachers and community leaders for encouraging parents to get their kids vaccinated. Lady health workers were trained on improving communication skill to effectively reach the parents and make sure that every kid in their vicinity gets vaccinated.

We also engaged medical professionals to increase the parent’s compliance with the vaccination courses.

In Urban areas, Seminars and lectures were conducted in community centers for raising awareness about the deadly disease. Religious leaders, community motivators, and activists were engaged to catch the attention of the population and motivate them to get their kids vaccinated.

The awareness campaign was successful in addressing concerns of parents and helped in creating responsiveness in parents to get their children vaccinated against meningitis and vaccine preventable diseases.