Pakistani province to receive vaccines from UNICEF directly

The northern Pakistani province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) has become the first province of the country to get the vaccines from United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) directly instead of getting it from the federal government. According to officials, the province begins to receive vaccines directly after the approval of 18th amendment by the parliament. The officials further said that getting vaccines from the federal government led to delay in receiving vaccines, therefore led to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable childhood ailments killing many children in recent years. KPK has become the first province to receive the quality vaccines under the new arrangement to get prompt supply of the vaccine to overcome diseases' prevalence. A health ministry official said, "We receive direct vaccine consignment. We will be able to immunise all children and mothers. Previously, the ministry of health procured the vaccine for the province." World Health Organization approves the vaccines procured by the province through UNICEF. Previously, the province due to the lengthy and costly procedure followed by the federal government faced shortage of vaccines.