CAIRO: President of the Global Development division at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Christopher J. Elias, held a meeting with Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination, Dr. Nadeem Jan, on the sidelines of the 70th Session of the WHO’s Regional Committee in Cairo.
Caretaker Federal Health Minister @DrNadeemjan represented Pakistan 🇵🇰 at the Opening Ceremony of the 70th Session of the WHO's Regional Committee of the Eastern Mediterranean in Cairo today.#EMRC70 #HealthForAll #United4Health pic.twitter.com/eEZbwdXZMB
— Ministry of National Health Services, Pakistan (@nhsrcofficial) October 9, 2023
Accompanying Mr. Elias were Deputy Director of BMGF, Michael Galway, and Director of the Pak-Afghan hub, Hamid Jaffery.
During the meeting, Dr. Nadeem Jan reiterated Pakistan’s comprehensive approach to polio eradication, emphasizing a “whole of governance” strategy. He highlighted that the Prime Minister, in a recent Task Force meeting, issued strong directives to address boycotts and ensure the safety of polio workers in high-risk areas. Dr. Jan also mentioned plans to revamp the communication strategy to tackle persistent refusals and fake fingermarking. He informed about the establishment of localized operational hubs aimed at halting the circulation of wild poliovirus in high-risk zones, particularly South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Federal Minister underscored the unwavering dedication and commitment of the Prime Minister and the entire government, including the civil and military machinery, to make Pakistan polio-free.
Mr. Christopher J. Elias acknowledged Pakistan’s significant progress in the journey towards polio eradication.
Discussing the work of the National Task Force on polio eradication, the Federal Minister stated that strategic decisions were being taken to combat the poliovirus effectively. Renewed outreach efforts have commenced, especially in response to the YB3A strain from Afghanistan, and plans are underway to expand the scope of health camps in high-risk areas.
The meeting emphasized the need to enhance access for polio workers, improve performance management and accountability, and implement a robust communication strategy.
Mr. Christopher J. Elias proposed reconvening the National Task Force on Polio Eradication meeting in October to streamline strategy implementation.
Federal Minister Dr. Nadeem Jan informed that Pakistan is preparing to introduce the HPV anti-cancer vaccine in March 2024, a move applauded by Chris Elias. Additionally, the Federal Minister disclosed Pakistan’s imminent launch of a Hepatitis C elimination program. He extended an invitation to the leadership of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to participate in the Global Health Security Summit in Islamabad.
Both sides expressed their commitment to collaborative efforts aimed at the complete eradication of polio in Pakistan.
