Pakistan is ranked among the top five countries worldwide for absolute reduction in child deaths, thanks to vaccination.

In a statement issued in Islamabad today (Wednesday), the World Health Organization said Pakistan has averted two point six million child deaths from preventable diseases, in addition to eradicating smallpox, reducing paralytic polio cases by ninety nine point eight percent and ensuring neonatal tetanus-free areas for eighty percent of the country's population.

Since 1994, powered by the medical science behind vaccines, Pakistan has reduced paralytic polio cases by ninety nine point eight percent till 2025.

It said Pakistan in collaboration with WHO has protected 160 million children and 130 million mothers with life-saving vaccines over five decades.  

The statement further said that Pakistan also obtained the WHO certification for the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus in Punjab, Sindh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Islamabad Capital Territory, and Gilgit-Baltistan, ensuring that approximately eighty percent of the country's population now lives in areas where neonatal tetanus no longer poses a public health threat, with less than one case per one thousand live births.

This achievement is the result of joint efforts by governments, partners, frontline health workers, communities and parents across the country.

Meanwhile, WHO Representative in Pakistan, Dr Luo Dapeng, said WHO is proud to stand with Pakistan, to support more than fifteen thousand routine vaccinators on the ground, and over four hundred thousand polio vaccinators, to protect every child and every mother, regardless of social or economic status, and no matter where they live or who they are.