Michael Galway and Hamid Jafri of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation called on Dr. Malik Mukhtar Ahmed, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination (NHSR&C) to discuss Pakistan's ongoing efforts to eradicate the Polio virus. The meeting, attended by Federal Secretary Iftikhar Ali Shallwani and DG Health NHSR&C, underscored the crucial partnership between Pakistan and Gates Foundation in combatting polio virus. During the meeting, Gates Foundation officials highlighted their close engagement with the Government of Pakistan on Polio eradication. They said that Pakistan had made significant progress in the combat against the crippling disease. Malik Mukhtar Ahmed assured the officials of the Government’s commitment to polio eradication efforts. He said that 2024 was a pivotal year in the journey for making Pakistan polio free by 2026. Coordinator to Prime Minister threw light on the challenges raised by population movements across the border with Afghanistan, the main reason of the recent outbreaks in certain areas. He stressed the necessity for a result-oriented health dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan to effectively combat the Polio virus. Dr. Malik Mukhtar Ahmed also announced plans for a conference next month, bringing together stakeholders from all provinces to identify and address any existing loopholes in the eradication strategy. Federal Secretary Iftikhar Ali Shallwani told the officials of Gates Foundation that the Ministry was working on engaging local administrations to bridge communication gaps and engage communities in vulnerable areas. He highlighted the importance of community participation in achieving the shared goal of a Polio-free Pakistan.
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