24/7 Care

Islamabad, Pakistan: In the bustling maternity labour ward at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) nestled in the heart of Islamabad, new life unfolds. With each passing morning, between 30 to 40 newborns are welcomed into the world. Day in, day out, PIMS offers mothers and newborns protection and care.

Around 7 million newborns are born in Pakistan each year. While many children grow and thrive, far too many do not survive their first year. An estimated 431,000 infants die before reaching their first birthday, with a neonatal mortality rate of 35 per 1,000 live births. The highest risks are in the first month, often linked to low birth weight, prematurity, and preventable diseases.

Illnesses such as pneumonia, diarrhea and other vaccine-preventable diseases continue to contribute to child deaths. Strengthening early care, timely immunization and quality health services is essential to giving every child a safer start in life.

Initially, the hospital's offering of birth dose vaccinations was limited to only an hour each day, from 11 am to 12 pm, leaving a substantial number of newborns vulnerable to preventable diseases. The scarce availability of crucial vaccines, including Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) for tuberculosis, oral polio vaccine (OPV), and hepatitis B (HBV) served only a handful of infants in the vicinity.

Other challenges extended well beyond the limited vaccination window. Accurate recording of newborn data affected tracking of vaccination schedules and the holistic management of healthcare protocols. Ensuring the prompt administration of the BCG vaccine to all eligible newborns was unattainable, compounded by resource scarcity, surging patient volumes, and a lack of trained personnel and female vaccinators.

Improving newborn care goes beyond addressing logistical challenges. It reflects the commitment and dedication of health workers who work every day to ensure babies receive the protection they need. Strengthening these services is an important step toward building a health system where every newborn can start life safe, healthy, and supported.

Ayesha Bibi, a 24-year-old vaccinator, is equipped with the passion and skills to ensure every eligible newborn receives their birth-dose vaccines. Tirelessly working in shifts, she is one of the heroes administering essential vaccines to newborns. She also provides parents counselling on best practices, the effects, and the significance of vaccines.

With the support of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre Relief (KSrelief) and UNICEF, PIMS Hospital, one of the busiest in Pakistan, is now providing life-saving vaccines to newborns around the clock. Babies from all over Pakistan can now receive their essential birth doses regardless of the time, date, or holidays.

‘’We were trained on vaccine administration, previously handled by lady health workers within tight schedules. This helped us enhance our interpersonal skills to warmly welcome parents and offer detailed guidance on vaccines and their effects. We also inform them about the upcoming vaccine schedule. We're grateful for the provision of fully air-conditioned cabins that shield newborns and potent vaccines from the scorching heat.’’

Kiran, a 22-year-old from Nowshera in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, celebrated the arrival of her much-anticipated son, Saim. Despite living almost 150 km away, she was determined to protect her son's well-being. Her decision to undergo childbirth at PIMS came after hearing about the availability of birth-dose vaccines.

Kiran's journey is proof that the mothers are committed their newborns receive critical protection through vaccination. Her gratitude is shared by countless other parents whose babies have benefited from round-the-clock birth dose services.

"I gave birth to my son at 3 am, a time when getting him vaccinated within 24 hours would have been impossible elsewhere. But thanks to this 24/7 birth dose facility, my baby received his vaccine on time. I'm deeply relieved knowing he is now protected from various viruses and diseases," Kiran shared with gratitude.

PIMS is one of eight KSrelief supported 24/7 birth-dose sites across Pakistan providing continuous care to newborns for a healthy start to life. Through this partnership, nearly 5,000 newborns have received their birth-dose vaccines at the hospital over the past six months. Vaccinators have been trained in safe vaccine administration and parent counselling, while strengthened systems and supportive supervision help ensure consistent quality and uninterrupted care.

Thanks to the dedication of health workers like Ayesha, the service operates around the clock, offering reassurance to families at one of life’s most vulnerable moments. For new parents, that peace of mind means they can focus on what matters most: welcoming their child into the world knowing they are protected from the very first day.