Spokesman Report
Peshawar/Islamabad, Pakistan – Following a comprehensive field assessment in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO) has pre-validated the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. This milestone takes Pakistan closer to interrupting the transmission of this life-threatening disease among mothers and newborns nationwide. Around 94% of Pakistan’s population – or approximately 250 million people – now live in areas where the spread of neonatal tetanus remains under controlled limits – less than 1 case of tetanus per 1,000 live births.
Gilgit-Baltistan achieved elimination in July 2025, Islamabad Capital Territory and Pakistan-Administered Kashmir in March 2025, Sindh in December 2024, and Punjab in 2016. With Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s achievement of the elimination threshold, Balochistan is the only province still working towards this goal.
The pre-validation assessment was conducted following a comprehensive review led by WHO and UNICEF, at the request of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which included field visits to high-risk, hard-to-reach districts with historically low immunization coverage, including Dera Ismail Khan, Battagram and Kohistan (Upper and Lower); a desk review of three years of surveillance data; and a quality audit of the tetanus vaccination campaigns in South Waziristan (Upper and Lower), where field access was not possible.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s achievement is the result of transformative strategies led by the national and provincial governments, in partnership with UNICEF and WHO. Combined efforts include improved immunization for pregnant women and women of childbearing age, surveillance, community engagement, safer delivery practices, improved skilled birth attendance, cord care, and enhanced access to other antenatal, maternal, newborn and child health services. Around 12,000 Lady Health Workers, together with thousands of vaccinators and frontline health staff, were at the heart of this effort, reaching women in some of the province’s most remote and underserved communities.
Babra, 36, and pregnant with her eighth child, is vaccinated against maternal and neonatal tetanus by a UNICEF-supported Lady Health Worker in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. Photo credit: © UNICEF/Pakistan/Zunash Abbasi
In 2025 alone, WHO and UNICEF supported the vaccination of 5.4 million pregnant women and women of childbearing age across Pakistan, including more than 870,000 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“This achievement shows the commitment of Pakistan’s authorities and its health workforce, as well as the communities, to saving lives and protecting every mother and child from a preventable disease. To achieve prosperity and sustainable development, every country needs healthy mothers and newborns. WHO will stand by Pakistan and its partners to achieve the elimination of neonatal tetanus across the country and protect every family, no matter where they live or who they are,” said WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Luo Dapeng.
Despite progress, Pakistan remains among 8 countries worldwide that have yet to eliminate MNT. While Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s progress towards MNT elimination is a major achievement, sustained efforts are needed to maintain the hard-fought gains.
“Pakistan is one step closer to protecting every mother and newborn from maternal and neonatal tetanus. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s progress reflects the determination of women to protect their own health and give their babies the best start in life, supported by dedicated frontline health workers and stronger health services and systems. Together with the government and our partners, UNICEF is proud to support this journey towards a healthier future for every child,” said Pernille Ironside, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan.
UNICEF and WHO will stand with Pakistan to accelerate action and support Balochistan, the remaining province, to take a decisive step towards the maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination target as part of the objectives of the Immunization Agenda 2030.
