Spokesman Report
Islamabad, Pakistan – The World Health Organization (WHO today handed over 20 four-wheel-drive (4×4) vehicles to Pakistan’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) to enhance immunization activities and supervision in geographically challenging areas. The 4X4 cars will be assigned to 20 priority districts with a high concentration of children who have never been vaccinated (“zero-dose” children).
With financial support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the distribution plan allocates three vehicles each for Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan; two each for Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PAK), Gilgit-Baltistan and at the federal level; and one each for the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
The vehicles will address transport shortages that have previously hindered immunization performance in high-risk districts – particularly in remote areas – improving managers’ mobility to supervise field activities directly, verify micro-plans, and ensure that vaccines are available even in the most distant communities.
“We are thankful to WHO and Gavi for this support. Our ecosystem currently faces significant challenges regarding water, sanitation, and health infrastructure, putting the health of our population at large at risk. To effectively reduce the burden of diseases, it is vital that we ensure our children are vaccinated against 13 vaccine-preventable diseases. We must prioritize immunization because, ultimately, prevention is better than cure. These vehicles are to reach out to zero-dose children here in Pakistan, the underprivileged people, and those who do not have awareness,” said Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal.
The new vehicles, aimed at improving governance oversight and supportive supervision, will support the Expanded Programme on Immunization teams to bridge the gap between urban centers and hard-to-reach populations. The primary goal is to identify and vaccinate “zero-dose” children.
“Reliable transport is essential for effective public health work. These vehicles will enhance regular supervision and resolve logistical issues on-site. WHO remains committed to partnering with Pakistan in strengthening its immunization systems to protect every child from vaccine-preventable diseases. In Pakistan, vaccines are protecting millions of children every year, and WHO will continue to partner with Pakistan and its people to build a healthier future for all,” said WHO Representative in Pakistan, Dr. Luo Dapeng.
The initiative follows an analysis that identified the need for health systems strengthening (HSS) in terms of field supportive supervision to improve immunization outcomes in priority areas with geographical barriers.
“This ceremony marks a significant step forward in Pakistan’s health systems strengthening. The vehicles you see before us will strengthen our services in our hard-to-reach and security threatened areas, ensuring that vaccines reach all our communities, and that no child is left behind. Let’s move forward together with purpose and unity ,” said Director General of the Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI) Dr. Musa Khan.
In 1978, Pakistan launched its Expanded Programme on Immunization in partnership with WHO. Since then, every year, over 7 million children and 5.5 million pregnant mothers are protected with life-saving vaccines.
Globally, every ten seconds, vaccination saves a life. In the last 50 years alone, vaccines have saved 154 million lives.
