Federal Minister Dr. Sania Nishtar in a statement on Monday highlighted that polio cases had reduced in Pakistan by 70 percent in 2012 and by 50 percent to date in 2013 at the World Health Assembly at Geneva, Switzerland.
She apprised the global community about Pakistan’s efforts towards polio eradication against all odds, which were appreciated by the assembly’s participants, who also offered their condolences on the tragic terrorist killings.
Earlier, Nishtar held bilateral meetings with the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI) and World Health Organization Non-communicable Diseases Department’s delegations, which were briefed about Pakistan’s new health architecture.
The GAVI delegation led by Deputy Chief Executive Operations Helen Evans stressed Pakistan’s importance as the alliance’s largest investor, committed to continuing efforts, especially in the areas of introducing new vaccines and possible support for injectable polio vaccines.
Dr. Sania led the Health Assembly’s Working Group on non communicable diseases (NCDs) to a successful conclusion, culminating in an action plan for global work on NCDs during 2013-2020. She was specially appreciated by international health leaders for taking on the additional role of co-chairing the committee session.
