VITAL’s story began in Rehri Goth – an impoverished peri-urban community of over 60,000 residents on the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan. Through baseline surveys conducted in the community in 2012 and 2013, we learnt that Rehri Goth had a neonatal mortality of 57 deaths per thousand live births and an under-5 mortality of 107 deaths per thousand live births. A comprehensive vision of health was needed to help those who were consistently being left behind. In 2013, our founder and chairperson, Dr. Anita Zaidi, won the inaugural Caplow children’s prize from over 500 applicants, based on her plan to save children’s lives through an integrated service delivery model. Over the last four years, we’ve used the Caplow prize money to develop a comprehensive service delivery model in Rehri Goth, and reduced neonatal mortality by 53% and under-5 mortality by 48%.
