Gavi [to 12 March 2016]
http://www.gavialliance.org/library/news/press-releases/

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09 March 2016
Pakistan progressing on immunisation efforts
High level mission praises country’s efforts and calls for increased commitment to reach every child
Islamabad, 9 March 2016 – Pakistan is making progress in improving its childhood immunisation programme, but sustained commitment at federal and provincial level is required to increase the coverage of services and reach children who today miss out on life-saving vaccines.

More than 1,000 Pakistani children under the age of five die every day, many of them from diseases that could have been prevented by vaccines. According to WHO and UNICEF estimates, Pakistan’s coverage rate with one of the most basic vaccines (DTP3) stood at 73% in 2014 with large variations between the provinces, districts and communities. The most recent Pakistan Demographic Health Survey, from 2013, showed Punjab had 76% coverage while in Baluchistan the figure was just 27%.

This week, a high level mission to Pakistan was led by Anuradha Gupta, Deputy CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, together with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the UK’s Department for International Development, USAID, the Norwegian Agency for Development and Cooperation, UNICEF and WHO. The visit was a follow up to a similar mission conducted in February 2015. The delegation visited Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi to see the progress made in the last 12 months, understand the challenges that lie ahead, and encourage leaders to reinforce their commitment to end childhood vaccine preventable deaths.

“I have been deeply encouraged by much of what I have seen during this visit,” said Ms Gupta. “Coordination at federal and provincial level has clearly improved and I have seen for myself some of the innovative work at local level to reach children with vaccines. This week’s approval of the budget for the new provincial plans, which will kick-start the National Immunisation Support Project, is welcome news as it paves the way for intensified action on routine immunisation. Timely release of funding at all levels will be a critical next step.”

Among the initiatives witnessed by the mission was a recently-expanded approach using mobile phone technology and real-time data to monitor vaccinators, identify children missing out on vaccinations, and strengthen accountability. In Punjab this has significantly increased immunisation coverage. Similar approaches are now being initiated in KP and Sindh….