Sindh province has officially been validated as free of Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus (MNT) province, marking a historic achievement in Pakistan’s healthcare progress.

This validation was confirmed during a debriefing session chaired by Secretary Health Sindh, Rehan Iqbal Baloch, with representatives from the Federal Directorate of Immunization, WHO, UNICEF, and local health officials.

Led by Dr Nasir Yusuf of WHO, the validation process involved thorough assessments to ensure the elimination of neonatal tetanus.

This success follows similar progress in Punjab, now covering 75 percent of Pakistan’s population.

Sindh’s health department continues to innovate with enhanced vaccination programs, monitoring systems, and outreach initiatives.

Key programs under the leadership of Minister for Health and Population Welfare, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, include introducing fuel cards for vaccinators and providing scooters for female health workers.

Health experts, including Dr Waqar Mehmood and Dr Muhammad Naeem, emphasized the collaborative efforts that contributed to this achievement. Dr Sohail Raza Shaikh stressed the need to maintain momentum in ensuring the sustainability of this status.

Global health partners, including UNICEF and WHO, praised the collective efforts that led to this remarkable milestone.