Co-chair of Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation Mr. Bill Gates held a meeting with Pakistan Federal Health Minister
Saira Afzal Tarar in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday to discuss partnership of his
foundation with the Government of Pakistan in the health sector.
A
wide range of areas in health sector were discussed including Pakistan’s
progress in Polio Eradication, mother and child health and innovations in
health-care.
Bill
Gates lauded the leadership of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for his
personal attention and oversight in making the polio eradication effort
successful. He expressed appreciation for the role Minister for National Health
Services Saira Afzal Tarar was playing in steering the polio effort and
introducing major reforms in the health sector.
Bill
Gates while expressing commitment to continue supporting polio effort, offered
support to Pakistan in the area of innovations in health and strengthening
mother and child care and reproductive health.
Both
sides nominated focal persons to carry forward the collaboration and finalize
details. Dr. Hassan was nominated from Bill and Melina Gates Foundation whereas
Dr. Assad Hafeez Director General Health was nominated as focal person from
Ministry of National Health Services.
Minister
for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar informed Bill Gates that
Pakistan is monitoring heightened vigilance with the aim of simultaneously
raising performance across the current hotspots where the virus is still
circulating.
She
said under our new Prime Minister, the National Task Force in August reaffirmed
Polio eradication as high national priority. The commitment of provincial
governments has given us a strong start to the low season with quality national
and sub-national campaigns in September and October respectively.
Our
frontline workers are the backbone of our programme and supporting them on
ground remains our key priority. Our armed forces continue to provide a safe
and supportive environment for the conduct of campaigns, added the Minister.
The Minister emphasized
that polio eradication in Pakistan enjoys broad based political support and is
seen as a national imperative. This
ensures sustainability of the initiative and this program will continue through
any political shifts or changes with a strong administrative base which is
already supporting the programme.
