–WHO pledges full support to Pakistan for final push on polio eradication
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday met World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and said his government is focusing on polio eradication as a national public health emergency.
Speaking during the meeting with the WHO director-general and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global Development Division President Dr Christopher Elias, the premier said that polio vaccination drives are being organised in close collaboration with all provinces and directly under the supervision of national, provincial and divisional task forces.
He also reiterated his government’s commitment to eradicate poliovirus and hoped that WHO will continue as a reliable partner in improving health for entire Pakistan.
The PM said that Pakistan attached great importance to WHO and appreciated its role in reforming the healthcare system. “The government is determined to implement a transformative social and economic agenda for a new Pakistan,” he added.
Dr Tedros Adhanom, on the occasion, said that WHO has increased its focus on public health, country-level impacts and bringing improvements in people’s access to health-related knowledge.
He told the premier about the organisation’s ongoing programmes in Pakistan and said WHO has considerably increased the level of support in the country, mainly due to the increase in activities aimed at the eradication of polio.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also met with the WHO director-general.
“Discussions [were] held on steps being taken for polio eradication in Pakistan,” spokesperson for the Foreign Office Dr Muhammad Faisal said in a tweet. “FM appreciated efforts by WHO for eradicating polio from Pakistan.”
FM Qureshi met Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, @WHO.
Discussions held on steps being taken for #polioeradication in #Pakistan. FM appreciated efforts by WHO for eradicating polio from Pakistan.@BillGates@melindagates #PoliofreePakistan pic.twitter.com/HCEh56KkhS— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) January 8, 2019
WHO PLEDGES FULL SUPPORT:
Separately, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for polio eradication and affirmed WHO’s full support in this regard.
Addressing a joint press conference with Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Aamer Mehmood Kiani, the WHO director-general assured strong partnership between the organisation and the Pakistani government for collective work against poliovirus.
“We are here to reaffirm our continued support for the government’s transformative public health agenda 2019 that promises to see Pakistan take solid steps towards achieving universal health coverage and eradicating polio.”
He also called for a final push on polio eradication and commitment to ensure that all people in the country can obtain healthcare services. “I am happy to know that there is a strong commitment at all levels to address hurdles in the eradication of poliovirus,” he added.
Dr Tedros is in Islamabad on a two-day official visit.
Earlier, on Jan 7, the WHO and the Government of Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of a model healthcare system for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the federal capital.
The WHO DG visited a basic health unit in Shah Allah Ditta, Islamabad where the MoU was signed. Director General Health Dr Assad Hafeez and WHO Country Representative in Pakistan Dr Nima Saeed were also present on the occasion.