disaster
Pakistan closer to eliminating neonatal tetanus after WHO pre-validation for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in partnership with UNICEF
By World Health Organization at ReliefWeb
· June 22, 2026
· 1 min read
. Original article on WHO Pakistan website. Around 94% of Pakistan’s population – or approximately 250 million people – now live in areas where the spread of neonatal tetanus is under controlled limits. Peshawar/Islamabad, Pakistan– Following a comprehensive field assessment in partnership with the
Key takeaway 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.
Why this matters
The pre-validation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province for the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus brings Pakistan significantly closer to achieving nationwide control of the disease. With approximately 250 million people, or 94% of the population, now living in areas where the spread of neonatal tetanus is under controlled limits, the country is nearing a major public health milestone. The progress made in various provinces, including Punjab, Sindh, and Gilgit-Baltistan, demonstrates the effectiveness of collaborative efforts between international organizations like WHO and UNICEF and local authorities. The remaining challenge lies in Balochistan, the only province still working towards elimination. As Pakistan moves forward, the experience gained in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other provinces will be crucial in guiding efforts to eliminate the disease in Balochistan, ultimately protecting the health and well-being of mothers and newborns across the country.
About this story
Original reporting by ReliefWeb . Christgiving surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: disaster ·
Published: June 22, 2026 ·
Source: ReliefWeb ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? . Original article on WHO Pakistan website. Around 94% of Pakistan’s population – or approximately 250 million people – now live in areas where the spread of neonatal tetanus is under controlled limits. Peshawar/Islamabad, Pakistan– Following a comprehensive field assessment in partnership with the
When was this published? This article was first published on June 22, 2026 by ReliefWeb and curated for Christgiving readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by World Health Organization at ReliefWeb. To learn more about how Christgiving selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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