Polio Points

The Polio Points website not only describes the initiative but also includes score charts with students' first names and the number of points they have earned for their good action, with the number of vaccines they have "purchased". According to organisers, ISB students, 70 of whom have volunteered to drive the project both within the school and the community, have shared ideas and information to inform the basis of future fundraising events. One participant said: "All of a sudden, with Polio Points in our grasp, we feel empowered, like we can make a difference. We are more aware of the world around us and motivated to try and make a difference now."

On the receiving end, in Pakistan, children are not only receiving vaccines; also, awareness sessions are held in schools to educate the children on the debilitating impacts of polio, to increase acceptance for polio vaccination, and to encourage students to maintain good hygiene to help protect them. Located in the jurisdiction of Union Council 84, which has been declared high risk for polio, Abu Bakar Siddique Colony provides free education to nearly 300 children from the neighbourhood. A substantial number of the students belong to the Pashtu-speaking community, which is a priority population for polio eradication (46 of the 58 children paralysed by polio in 2012 were Pashtuns). The children, whose enthusiasm is captured in the excerpt above, aged as young as 3 and as old as 12, were part of an awareness session and quiz on polio and hygiene. Beforehand, an awareness session on polio, hygiene, and importance of handwashing was organised for the teachers of the school to build their knowledge base and then share the same with the students and prepare them for the competition. On the day of the quiz, the children came prepared, and the winners of the quiz were awarded colour books and pastels. This event was organised by the Communication Network (COMNet) for polio eradication, with the support of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Pakistan. Over 1,000 COMNet staff across Pakistan's high-risk districts for polio help to ensure that parents understand polio and the importance of vaccine. UNICEF Pakistan supports communication and awareness activities through COMNet across Pakistan to increase acceptance for polio vaccine, raise public demand, and address refusals.

Polio, Children

According to UNICEF, "[t]he communication and awareness activities with special focus on school children has played a vital role to ensure protection of children in Lahore, which saw its last polio case in 2011."

The owner of Abu Bakar Siddique Colony, a man in his 90s, said "I have deep respect for Brunei because of its role in spreading the message of cohesion among the Muslim nations."