Pakistan Among Top Global Child Mortality Reducers

Pakistan Achieves Global Recognition in Child Mortality Reduction

Pakistan has earned global recognition for its remarkable progress in reducing child mortality, ranking among the top five countries worldwide for absolute reduction in child deaths. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the country has successfully averted 2.6 million child deaths through sustained vaccination efforts.

Over the past five decades, Pakistan, in collaboration with WHO, has protected 160 million children and 130 million mothers with life-saving vaccines. These efforts have transformed the nation’s healthcare landscape, ensuring resilience against preventable diseases.

Key achievements include:

• Smallpox eradication, marking a historic milestone in public health.
• 99.8% reduction in paralytic polio cases since 1994, with ongoing campaigns to achieve complete eradication.
• Neonatal tetanus elimination in Punjab, Sindh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan, ensuring that 80% of Pakistan’s population now lives in areas free from this deadly condition.

WHO emphasized that these successes are the result of joint efforts by governments, partners, frontline health workers, communities, and parents. The organization highlighted the dedication of more than 15,000 routine vaccinators and over 400,000 polio vaccinators working across the country to protect every child and mother, regardless of social or economic status.

Dr. Luo Dapeng, WHO Representative in Pakistan, praised the country’s achievements, noting that the commitment to vaccination has not only saved millions of lives but also strengthened public trust in healthcare systems. He reaffirmed WHO’s support in continuing these efforts to ensure equitable access to immunisation for all.

Pakistan’s recognition as a top child mortality reducer underscores the power of vaccination campaigns, community engagement, and international collaboration. It serves as a model for other nations striving to improve maternal and child health outcomes.

This milestone reflects Pakistan’s resilience and determination to protect future generations, proving that sustained investment in immunisation is one of the most effective strategies for saving lives and building healthier communities.