ISLAMABAD: A crucial health initiative in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, supported by the Bill Gates Foundation, is at risk of termination due to delays in land allocation and the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) by the Local Government Department.
The Gates Foundation had committed to building 15 health centers in high-risk areas for polio across the province, covering all expenses until December 2025. Since 2020, the foundation has operated temporary health centers in rented spaces, but with the deadline for land allocation approaching, the future of the project is uncertain.
Four sites for the centers have been identified by the Local Government Department, but the required land and NOCs have not been provided. Without these, the project could end by March, potentially hindering efforts to fight polio in the region.
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Health Secretary Adeel Shah confirmed the situation, stating that efforts are underway to resolve the delays and ensure the project’s timely completion. The establishment of these centers is critical in protecting children from polio, and the delay threatens to undo the progress made so far.
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