How WHO Helped Pakistan Navigate the COVID-19 Pandemic
Introduction: A Global Emergency, A Local Response
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, Pakistan — like most of the world — was unprepared for a crisis of such scale. But behind the scenes, the World Health Organization (WHO) immediately stepped in to help guide the country through one of the most challenging public health emergencies in modern history.
From technical support and lab training to vaccine access and public awareness, WHO played a crucial role in helping Pakistan respond, recover, and rebuild.
🧪 Early Detection and Technical Guidance
WHO’s involvement in Pakistan’s COVID-19 response began before the first case was even confirmed.
Key Early Actions:
- Provided testing protocols and sample collection guidelines
- Supplied lab kits and helped set up PCR testing across provinces
- Trained healthcare workers in infection prevention and control (IPC)
- Supported quarantine and isolation planning in major cities
“WHO has been with us from day one — guiding every clinical and technical step.”
— Official, Ministry of National Health Services
🧑⚕️ Strengthening the Health System
As Pakistan faced rising case numbers, WHO worked to:
- Equip hospitals with ventilators, PPE kits, and oxygen support
- Train frontline workers on triage, COVID treatment protocols, and use of equipment
- Deploy epidemiologists and surveillance teams to track local outbreaks
WHO also supported the establishment of National and Provincial Command Centres (NCOC) — a decision-making platform that became key to Pakistan’s response coordination.
💉 COVAX: Delivering COVID Vaccines to Pakistan
One of WHO’s biggest contributions came through COVAX, the global vaccine-sharing program.
COVAX Impact in Pakistan:
- Delivered millions of free vaccine doses (Sinopharm, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna)
- Helped vaccinate over 70% of eligible adults by late 2022
- Supported cold chain logistics, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas
- Trained thousands of vaccinators and healthcare workers on safe vaccine administration
This was crucial for equity — ensuring that Pakistan wasn’t left behind in global vaccine access, despite being a lower-middle-income country.
📣 Public Awareness & Misinformation Control
In Pakistan, like elsewhere, the pandemic came with a wave of misinformation — false cures, conspiracy theories, and vaccine fears.
WHO helped:
- Launch multilingual awareness campaigns via TV, radio, and social media
- Partner with local influencers, doctors, and religious leaders to build trust
- Set up a COVID-19 Myth Busters portal in Urdu
- Host press briefings alongside the Ministry of Health to ensure clarity
🤝 Collaboration with Local Partners
Throughout the pandemic, WHO worked closely with:
- Government of Pakistan (especially the Ministry of Health and NDMA)
- UNICEF (for vaccine communication and child health)
- Hospitals, universities, and labs for training and surveillance
- Media and civil society to ensure transparency and accountability
📊 Key Results from WHO’s Support
- Pakistan kept its death rate lower than many countries with similar healthcare challenges
- COVID-19 response was decentralized but unified, thanks to WHO’s technical planning
- WHO helped Pakistan secure global recognition for its pandemic management strategy — particularly in early containment and vaccine rollout
🧾 Final Thoughts: More Than a Health Crisis
COVID-19 was not just a pandemic — it was a test of global solidarity. WHO’s support helped Pakistan navigate not only a health emergency but a humanitarian, economic, and mental health crisis.
As new variants emerge and global systems evolve, WHO’s experience in Pakistan stands as an example of what coordinated global-local health partnerships can achieve.
“No one is safe until everyone is safe. WHO stood by that in Pakistan — and we saw the results.”
