In 2010, Pakistan experienced an unprecedented disaster when super floods submerged more than 20% of the country, impacting over 20 million people. The crisis exposed significant gaps in the public health sector, particularly in children’s emergency rooms (ERs), which were overwhelmed by resource shortages. Children were forced to lie on the floor due to a lack of beds, medicines were scarce, and doctors struggled to provide life-saving care with limited resources.

During this crisis, CNN’s chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, traveled to Pakistan to document the dire situation. Reporting from Karachi’s Civil Hospital, he witnessed the immense strain on its Pediatric Emergency Room (ER). His coverage highlighted the grim reality: an outdated facility, overcrowded and under-resourced, struggling to save lives. This powerful exposé resonated deeply, inspiring a group of compassionate Pakistani philanthropists to take action.

By 2011, their efforts culminated in the transformation of the Pediatric ER at Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi. The 26-bed facility was renovated with the latest life-saving equipment, a well-stocked pharmacy, and a triage system designed to prioritize critical cases. This renovation marked the birth of the ChildLife Foundation, an organization committed to saving lives through innovation and expansion.

Since initiating operations in 2011, ChildLife Foundation has strategically expanded its presence across Pakistan, achieving a reach that now spans over 300 hospitals. This includes:

  • 13 state-of-the-art children’s Emergency Rooms (ERs) in tertiary care hospitals
  • 300+ Telemedicine Satellite Centers (TSCs) in district and tehsil hospitals
  • 1 Urgent Care Centre in Sindh Government Hospital – New Karachi

Through this network, we have treated over 7.5 million children to date, improving emergency care and reducing child mortality by 50%. By equipping secondary care hospitals with telemedicine, ChildLife ensures expert pediatric consultation is available within reach, reducing the need for referrals to urban centers and minimizing delays in life-saving treatments.

Through ChildLife’s efforts, 82% of Pakistan’s children now have access to quality emergency care within a 30-minute radius.

ChildLife’s journey continues, but our mission remains unchanged. We envision a Pakistan where no child dies due to a lack of timely medical intervention. With every ER we build, and every telemedicine center we inaugurate, we are moving closer to this goal, creating a legacy of hope, resilience, and change for generations to come.

  • 82% of Pakistan’s children now have emergency care access within 30 minutes.
  • Quality Emergency Care Reduce Child Mortality by 50%