**Gilgit-Baltistan Achieves Pre-Validation as Low-Risk Region for Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus**
The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the Government of Pakistan and UNICEF, has officially recognized Gilgit-Baltistan as a pre-validated low-risk region for maternal and neonatal tetanus. This achievement marks a significant milestone in public health efforts across the region.
The assessment was carried out by experts from WHO, WHO Pakistan, and the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHOEMRO), who partnered with Pakistan’s health authorities and UNICEF during a comprehensive field mission in Gilgit-Baltistan. The results confirm that ongoing efforts to reduce and control maternal and neonatal tetanus have yielded substantial progress.
Maternal and neonatal tetanus is a life-threatening disease that affects newborns and mothers, particularly in areas with inadequate immunization and healthcare services. Achieving low-risk status is the result of dedicated immunization campaigns, improved access to quality maternal healthcare, and enhanced community awareness.
Health officials have praised the collaborative efforts between international organizations and local authorities, emphasizing the importance of continued vigilance and sustained immunization programs to maintain the region’s low-risk status and move towards full elimination of the disease.
The recognition of Gilgit-Baltistan as a low-risk region represents a positive step forward for maternal and child health in Pakistan, inspiring further progress in other areas still battling the disease.
