Govt firmly committed to polio eradication from Pakistan: PM
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Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reassured that his government is firmly committed to eradicating the polio virus from the country.
According to the 24News HD TV channel, the PM held a meeting with a delegation of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative here in Islamabad and reassured unwavering support and commitment to eradicating polio from Pakistan.
The delegation was led by Dr Christopher Elias, Chair Polio Oversight Board and President Global Development Program of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and included Regional Director of WHO Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, Regional Director of UNICEF George Laryea-Adjei, Aziz Memon, National Chair NPPC, Rotary International and officials of the donors and partners of the polio eradication program.
Federal Minister for National Health Services & Regulations Abdul Qadir Patel was also present at the meeting.
The Prime Minister thanked the delegation for its untiring efforts regarding polio eradication in Pakistan. He also highlighted the government's efforts which have resulted in containing the spread of the virus to the extent that major parts of the country are now polio-free whereby only a few pockets are left which are being targeted in the periodic polio campaigns. The Prime Minister also assured the delegation that the teams in the field are given high-level security and that Pakistan will never allow anyone to sabotage this national effort.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the Federal Minister for National Health Services, Abdul Qadir Patel to immediately visit Peshawar and synergize efforts with the Provincial Government's authorities for gearing up efforts to vaccinate children against the polio virus, particularly targeting those pockets in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where poliovirus is still present.
Dr Christopher Elias conveyed special regard for Bill Gates to the Prime Minister and informed that Mr. Gates is thankful to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his personal interest in the cause of polio eradication from Pakistan. The country Director of UNICEF briefed the Prime Minister about the relief efforts in flood-hit areas of the country and polio campaigns in those areas.
The delegation also lauded the Prime Minister for keeping politics aside and working with the provincial governments for polio eradication from the country.