Pakistan – Federal Minister for
National Health Services, Saira Afzal Tarar terms the 64th Regional
Committee meeting of WHO EMRO as a big achievement for Pakistan, which help the
positive image of the country before the guest countries representatives.
She
added that it will be helpful in enhancing the prestige and image of the
country. The participant’s perceptions of Pakistan have changed. This regional
conference has been hailed as one of the best held so far in the region that
stretches from Pakistan and Afghanistan in South Asia to middle east and North
Africa.
While
speaking with Media, federal minister said that, “we have overcome to fatal
diseases particular contracted to children and adolescent girls.
Federal
minister was of the view that the conference has been unprecedented in terms of
its scale with 21 countries participating led by Health Ministers and senior
leaderships from the participating countries.
She
said that Pakistan is moving forward towards complete eradication of Polio from
Pakistan.
She
informed that Pakistan has presented its key initiatives taken during the last
four years in this regional conference. In the session on Social Protection
Pakistan presented its Prime Minister’s National Health Program which is
providing cashless high quality health services to the poorest of the poor. The
initiative was highly appreciated as a model for social and health equity.
Regional countries expressed keen interest in replicating this model in their
respective countries.
Federal
minister further added that Pakistan shared its progress in the Polio
Eradication Initiative and elaborated the transition plan post eradication.
Despite major challenges the country’s progress in stopping Polio was
appreciated by the region.
Pakistan
led Assistive Technology session calling upon countries of the region to ensure
that Assistive Devices are available to all persons with disabilities. Upon
Pakistan’s initiative the regional committee adopted declaration on assistive
devices. It was agreed to include access to assistive technology as part of
universal health coverage.
She
maintained that it was decided that the first regional meeting on assistive
devices will be convened in Pakistan which is a great honor for the country. A
resource centre on assistive technologies will be established. Data on unmet
needs of assistive technologies will also be collected. Pakistan will lead
efforts to bring a resolution on assistive technologies in WHO Executive Board
meeting being held in January 2018.
Improvements
made by Pakistan in mother and child immunization were shared with the regional
committee. Significant progress in up scaling coverage and ensuring
sustainability of services was highly appreciated.
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