A Beacon of Hope: Public-Private Partnership Transforms Child Health in Karachi’s Underserved Areas

KARACHI: In the heart of Karachi’s underserved urban slums, a quiet revolution is improving the lives of thousands of children. An innovative public-private initiative—Engaging Private Providers for Immunization-Integrated Services—is bringing critical health care to families who previously had little to no access. Launched in 2022, the project is already showing transformative results.

Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and implemented by the Government of Sindh’s Health Department, the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), and Aga Khan University (AKU), the initiative targets 15 high-risk and super high-risk Union Councils across District East, Malir, and West—areas where access to health services and trust in health systems have long been limited.

Reaching the Unreachable

The program was born out of necessity, as Karachi’s growing mobile and migrant population expanded informal settlements with virtually no preventive health care. Children in these areas were highly vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases and malnutrition.

By December 2024, the results were compelling:

• 144,563 children under two were vaccinated

• 68,861 were screened for malnutrition

• A 76% reduction in zero-dose children—those who had never received a vaccine

• 33 service centers were established with extended hours and trained private providers

• Local women were mobilized as trusted health advocates

• Digital platforms and WhatsApp broadcasts expanded outreach

Addressing Malnutrition Alongside Immunization

Nutrition was an essential part of the model. Screening efforts identified over 6,000 malnourished children, with 568 children restored to healthy weight and 177 improving from severe to moderate malnutrition through timely interventions.

Voices of Leadership and Hope

Dr. Azra Pechuho, Sindh’s Health Minister, praised the success:
“Karachi served as a pilot to generate data for a province-wide scale-up. We now look to extend this model across Sindh.”

Dr. Zahid Memon, Project Lead and Associate Professor at AKU, emphasized the value of collaboration:
“This initiative proves that when public and private sectors join hands with communities, we can remove barriers and build a resilient health ecosystem.”

Dr. Mukhtar Bharat, Minister of State for National Health Services, also acknowledged the project during a recent Primary Health Care Symposium, stating:
“The challenges of the health sector require multi-sectoral collaboration. This project is a model for integrated, community-driven health systems.”

A Model for the Future

The initiative’s success has informed Sindh’s and Pakistan’s National Immunization Strategies (2025–2030), offering a roadmap to replicate and scale this model across the country. For the families of Karachi’s slums, it’s more than a project—it’s a promise fulfilled.

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Districts and Union Councils Covered:

• East: Gulzar-e-Hijri, Safoora, Pehlwan Goth, Gujro 04

• Malir: Malir Cantt

• West: Qasba Colony, Frontier Colony, Baloch Goth, Maymarabad, Yousuf Goth, Chishti Nagar 07, Islamia Colony 09, Mangophir 08, Songal 05, Moominabad

This initiative marks a turning point in how inclusive, community-focused health care can uplift vulnerable populations and pave the way for a healthier future.