Islamabad, August 10, 2024 – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a critical meeting today focused on Pakistan’s ongoing battle against polio, with Bill Gates, Chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, participating virtually alongside other senior officials.
The urgency of the meeting was underscored by the latest report of a polio case, which has brought the total for 2023 to 14. The new case involves a 20-month-old girl from Qila Saifullah, Balochistan, which has been significantly affected, accounting for 11 of this year’s cases.
Prime Minister Sharif expressed deep concern over the rising number of polio cases and stressed the need for intensified efforts to eradicate the virus. He expressed his gratitude to Bill Gates for his unwavering support and praised the new leadership of the virus eradication program for their dedication during this challenging period.
In his remarks, Gates acknowledged the Pakistan government’s proactive stance on the eradication campaign and commended the vaccination teams for their relentless efforts to reach every child in recent campaigns. He emphasized that maintaining momentum in the coming months is crucial to halt the virus’s transmission.
The Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio, Ayesha Raza Farooq, provided a comprehensive briefing on the current situation, identifying key challenges and gaps. She highlighted that the outbreak is primarily driven by persistent virus circulation in Karachi, Quetta, and Peshawar. Farooq noted that the next four months are critical for implementing high-quality vaccination rounds to reverse the current trend.
The meeting also featured updates from provincial chief secretaries on their respective regions’ efforts to adhere to the national polio eradication roadmap. The Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Health assured full support to provincial authorities in their fight against the virus.
This high-level meeting underscores the critical need for continued and concerted efforts to eradicate polio in Pakistan and reflects a united front in tackling this persistent public health challenge.
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