Bill Gates announced the support during his meeting with a high-powered Pakistani health delegation Wednesday at Abu Dhabi, where Gates had especially flown in to discuss ways and means to rid Pakistan of polio, a cause his organization — Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation — is supporting across the world.
The Pakistani delegation was led by Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Sector Shahnaz Wazir Ali, and comprised Director General Health Dr. Assad Hafeez, Secretary Health Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Munir Azam, Pakistan’s Ambassador to UAE Jamil Ahmad Khan, National EPI Manager Dr. Altaf Bosan and Focal Person for the Polio Emergency Plan Dr. Rehan Hafiz.
Shahnaz Wazir Ali handed over to Bill Gates, a letter from President Zardari in the context of his recent meeting with him in the US and his support to Pakistan in the field of immunisation, including polio eradication. She briefed Gates on the newly-launched emergency action plan for polio eradication and current status of activities carried out by Pakistan to meet the challenges in this regard.
Gates had intense discussions on all aspects of the plan, covering managerial, technical, financial as well as research activities. He expressed support for the government of Pakistan towards its efforts for polio eradication in particular and enhancing routine immunization in general. Challenges confronting the polio effort in Pakistan were discussed in detail, with Gates pledging all-out support to deal with issues that have impeded progress in this area. Introduction of new vaccine under co-financing arrangement with GAVI was also discussed. Specific areas for research in polio and immunization were proposed to be carried out in the country.
Gates expressed his intention to visit Pakistan in the near future to see progress in the polio emergency action plan. The president and prime minister of Pakistan have already provided leadership towards this cause.
Internationally, the Gates Foundation supports work in more than 100 countries, including Pakistan. Immunization is one of the important areas of the foundation’s global focus and includes grants of US $1.5 billion to the GAVI Alliance to support new vaccine introduction and US $456 million for PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative. The foundation is also one of the most generous supporters to the Global Polio Eradication Programme, with contributions over 10 years now in excess of US $800 million.
In Pakistan, the foundation has contributed $100 million to the national polio effort, supporting work by the World Health Organisation, Unicef and Rotary since 2008. This includes a $33 million contribution to a World Bank ‘buy down’ for vaccines that leveraged a $74 million contribution for the procurement of oral polio vaccine. The Foundation also recently provided grants of US $1.3 million as flood relief assistance for the flood affected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A part of this grant was provided through the International Rescue Committee, while a separate grant was made directly to the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
via: TheNews
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