PM Shehbaz Sharif Meets Bill Gates at WEF Special Meeting, Discusses Polio Eradication and Collaboration
A vaccination campaign to immunize more than 24 million children under the age of five against poliovirus will begin in 91 districts of the country from Monday, April 29.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif recently met with Bill Gates, the founder and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), during the World Economic Forum (WEF) Special Meeting held in Riyadh. The meeting underscored the importance of collaboration in eradicating polio and advancing various socio-economic development initiatives in Pakistan.
During their discussion, Gates commended the successful immunization and polio vaccine program implemented in Punjab under Mr. Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership as Chief Minister. He emphasized the importance of replicating this successful model nationwide to ensure the success of immunization programs across the country.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude for Mr. Gates’ congratulatory letter upon his re-election and reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the partnership between Pakistan and the Gates Foundation. He highlighted Pakistan’s relentless efforts to eradicate polio and acknowledged the Foundation’s longstanding support in this regard. Both leaders agreed on the importance of sustained efforts by all stakeholders to achieve a polio-free Pakistan.
In addition to polio eradication, the Prime Minister and Gates discussed progress on ongoing activities related to immunization, nutrition, and financial inclusion. The Prime Minister emphasized the Gates Foundation’s role as a trusted partner in Pakistan’s socio-economic development and sought collaboration in other areas such as IT, STEM education, and disaster management.
Recalling Mr. Gates’ previous visit to Pakistan in February 2022, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended an invitation for him to visit Pakistan again at his convenience, further strengthening the collaborative efforts between Pakistan and the Gates Foundation.
Polio campaign launched to vaccinate over 24 million children
A vaccination campaign to immunize more than 24 million children under the age of five against poliovirus will begin in 91 districts of the country from Monday, April 29.
The campaign is being held in Islamabad, 10 districts of Punjab, 24 districts of Sindh, 26 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 30 districts of Balochistan, during which polio teams will go house-to-house bringing the crucial oral polio vaccine with them.
Coordinator to the PM on the National Health Services Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath said that the government is committed to ensuring that all children are protected from this terrible disease.
“Poliovirus has been detected in multiple sewage samples in the country in recent months which means this virus remains a serious threat to children’s wellbeing,” said Dr Bharat, adding that this disease has no cure and the only way to protect children is to vaccinate.
“We are sending polio teams to your homes, so make sure to open your door to vaccinators and get your child vaccinated,” he added.
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Dr Shahzad Baig, Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Center for Polio Eradication, said that this is a critical campaign being held in districts with high risk of poliovirus spread.
“We have detected the virus in over 31 districts this year, which is why we are continuing to implement regular vaccination campaigns in all high-risk districts to ensure that children have the immunity to fight off polio infection,” he said.
