Bringing together Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and Aga Khan Development Network to deliver combined nutrition and immunisation interventions in Pakistan

Pakistan is a vast country, with a beautiful and eclectic landscape. However, for decades, it has grappled with political unrest and global economic shocks, resulting in dire knock-on effects for the country’s population.

Nearly half of its children currently suffer from stunting; malnutrition is linked to approximately three million deaths of children under-five a year. This is compounded by the huge number of zero-dose children (children with no immunisations), currently at approximately 1.2 million.

Immunisation and nutrition programmes often work in silos, despite aiming to support the same target populations. Malnutrition weakens the body's immune system. This is particularly dangerous for vulnerable young children. A child who does not receive adequate nourishment is up to 15 times more likely to die from pneumonia and eight times more likely to die from diarrhoea. On top of this, malnutrition can also diminish the body’s response to vaccines. Having the right nutrition boosts the effectiveness of immunisations, giving children the best chance to grow up healthy and strong.

The Power of Nutrition convened partners to tackle this in a holistic way, with a new programme targeting three districts in Pakistan. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is providing expertise on immunisations whilst Aga Khan Development Network is acting as the implementer on the ground.

The co-designed and co-funded programme aims to reach approximately 55,000 children under two with routine immunisations. It will also provide approximately 1 million women with better nutrition and health care, empowering them with knowledge to confidently deliver the best care for themselves and their children, helping to tackle the intergenerational trap of malnutrition.

The $7.2 million programme aims to support seven districts of the highest need - Diamir, Astore, Gilgit, Sibi, Bolan, Thatta, Sajawal.

The programme launched on the 19^th August 2024 in Islamabad, where health department representatives from Balochistan, Sindh and Gilgit Baltistan Districts had the opportunity to speak about the challenges faced in their individual districts. The inaugural event gave a chance for all the partners to be together to launch this much needed programme, breaking silos between nutrition and immunisation to create greater impact at scale.

There has been a global call for programmes that integrate nutrition and immunisation interventions. This programme will also provide the vital evidence base, needed for investment in future programmes like this.

Image credits: Gavi/2020/Asad Zaidi