Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal today launched the third phase of the Big Catch-Up Round immunization campaign at Islamabad’s Golra Sharif Basic Health Unit, targeting children who missed routine inoculations against twelve life-threatening diseases.
Minister Kamal stressed the critical need to expand preventive healthcare nationwide. He declared the campaign a national commitment to safeguarding children, promising a robust vaccination effort across the country.
The minister highlighted the strain on Pakistan”s healthcare infrastructure, citing the overwhelming patient load at hospitals like PIMS. He attributed this to the nation’s 3.6% population growth rate, the world”s highest, adding that the annual increase is equivalent to adding another country’s population, severely impacting healthcare and education, leaving 25 million children out of school.
Minister Kamal pointed to contaminated drinking water as the source of 68% of illnesses, with untreated sewage polluting water sources from Gilgit to Karachi. He lamented the lack of sewage treatment practices.
He criticized the focus on treatment over prevention, stating the environment fosters illness, yet the solution is seen as building more hospitals. He emphasized the futility of treatment without preventive measures, stating his priority is preventing disease.
Regarding child health, Kamal revealed alarming statistics: 40% of Pakistani children suffer from malnutrition and stunted growth, and in 2025 alone, Pakistan recorded 13 polio cases, with positive environmental samples in nearly every district.
Despite the challenges, Kamal acknowledged progress in polio eradication due to intensive vaccination drives, emphasizing that unlike cancer, polio has no cure.
WHO Representative Dr. Dapeng Luo emphasized the impact of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, stating vaccinations save a life every ten seconds. Since its inception in 1978, the program, in partnership with WHO, has saved millions of lives in Pakistan. WHO will continue its support, including providing technical guidance, resources, and mobilizing vaccinators, as well as distributing Gavi-donated motorbikes to reach vulnerable communities.
The Big Catch-Up Round III marks a significant advancement in bolstering Pakistan’s immunization system and safeguarding vulnerable groups.