In the dusty lanes of rural Sindh, Pakistan, little Muzammil struggles to keep pace with other children. His small legs move slowly as he watches his friends run toward school. Some days, the weight of his condition keeps him indoors, isolated, longing for the carefree laughter of childhood.

Muzammil Nazeer is a young boy living with the unyielding effects of polio, a condition that has shaped his world in ways no child should know. His father, M. Nazeer Hussain Soomro, the Imam at the local mosque, carries a heavy burden of regret, the regret of not ensuring his son received vital immunization vaccines. That decision, made years ago, has cast a long shadow over Muzammil’s life, leaving him isolated in ways no father wants to witness.

“I am smart and want to study, but I can't go to school every day,” said Muzammil. “Kids bully me and sometimes even hit me.”

His story explores the consequences of communities facing both natural disasters and gaps in health care. In 2022, devastating floods swept across Sindh, the southeastern province, destroying homes, crops, and entire villages. More than 33 million people were affected nationwide, with 14.5 million in Sindh alone.

In the aftermath of the floods, Jhpiego, with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Government of Sindh, extended critical health services across the hardest-hit districts of Dadu, Kamber, Shikarpur, and Larkana. More than 400 health camps were organized, providing care to over 17,000 patients. The project reached 1,000 children who had never received vaccinations (zero-dose children) and helped 2,000 children who had missed immunizations complete their vaccinations.

To safeguard maternal and newborn health, health workers conducted over 20,000 antenatal sessions and 644 postnatal care sessions. Recognizing the emotional toll of the disaster, the initiative also conducted 2,000 mental health screenings, offering psychosocial support to vulnerable families.

In parallel, community mobilization efforts flourished, with more than 1,000 health awareness sessions led by social mobilizers, ensuring that information and access to services reached even the most remote families.

Together, these interventions have laid the foundation for a healthier and more resilient Sindh.

For children like Muzammil, the most urgent need was immunization. Before the floods, his vaccination schedule had already been incomplete, leaving him vulnerable. The floods made it even harder for families to access services. Jhpiego’s team and local health workers reached deep into rural communities, ensuring that over 1,000 zero-dose children received their first vaccines and 2,000 children completed their missed doses.

As Muzammil watches the world around him, he often wonders if the future will ever feel different. Had his father ensured he completed his vaccine doses, the struggles he faces today might have been prevented. The weight of the past is heavy, but in his heart, there's a quiet hope—hope that the scars of today won't define tomorrow. For Nazeer, every step toward healing is a chance to rewrite the story of regret, and in his son’s eyes, he sees a future still worth fighting for.

“In every Friday prayer sermon, I urge the attendees at the mosque not to overlook the importance of getting their children immunized,” said M. Nazeer Hussain Soomro. “I remind them that all children under the age of 5 should receive their vaccinations, hoping that my words encourage them to protect their children. My own child faces these challenges, but their children's future can still be secured.”

Together, these stories paint a picture larger than any single life. They show how health care becomes the first building block in recovery, allowing children to be protected, mothers to give birth safely, and families to heal not just from floods but from years of neglect.

As Muzammil watches his younger siblings line up for vaccination, he smiles with quiet pride. His struggle remains, but his family now carries a different kind of strength, the assurance that the future will not be as uncertain as the past.

Areej Javed is the Deputy Manager for Communication, Advocacy and Knowledge Management for Jhpiego in Pakistan.