Pakistan has moved significantly closer to eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) following the World Health Organization’s pre-validation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. This achievement means that approximately 94 percent of Pakistan’s population, representing around 250 million people, now live in areas where neonatal tetanus transmission remains below the internationally accepted elimination threshold of fewer than one case per 1,000 live births.
The milestone follows a comprehensive assessment conducted by WHO and UNICEF in collaboration with the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The review included field visits to remote and high-risk districts, detailed analysis of surveillance data, and audits of vaccination campaigns. These evaluations confirmed that the province had successfully met the criteria required for maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa joins several other regions that have already achieved elimination status, including Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. With this progress, Balochistan remains the only province still working toward achieving elimination, bringing Pakistan closer than ever to nationwide success against the disease.
The achievement reflects years of coordinated efforts by federal and provincial health authorities, supported by WHO and UNICEF. Key interventions have included expanded vaccination coverage for pregnant women and women of childbearing age, strengthened disease surveillance systems, improved maternal and newborn healthcare services, safer childbirth practices, enhanced cord care, and extensive community outreach programs.
Frontline health workers played a central role in this success. Thousands of vaccinators, healthcare professionals, and nearly 12,000 Lady Health Workers helped deliver immunization services and health education to women living in remote and underserved communities. Their efforts have contributed to greater protection for mothers and newborns against a disease that remains a significant public health concern in some parts of the world.
In 2025 alone, WHO and UNICEF supported the vaccination of approximately 5.4 million pregnant women and women of childbearing age across Pakistan, including more than 870,000 women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These immunization efforts have been instrumental in reducing the risk of maternal and neonatal tetanus and improving maternal and child health outcomes.
Despite this important progress, Pakistan remains one of only a few countries globally that have not yet achieved complete elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus. Health partners emphasize that continued investment in vaccination, surveillance, maternal healthcare, and community engagement will be essential to sustain gains and support Balochistan in reaching elimination targets.
The achievement demonstrates the effectiveness of strong partnerships between government institutions, international organizations, healthcare workers, and local communities. It also advances the goals of the Immunization Agenda 2030 by helping ensure that every mother and newborn has access to life-saving preventive healthcare, regardless of location or socioeconomic status.
