Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Bill Gates, have reaffirmed their commitment to working together to eliminate polio from Pakistan, one of the last two countries where the disease remains endemic. This collaboration includes joint funding for vaccination campaigns, sharing of best practices in healthcare management, and support for research and development of new polio vaccines. This announcement comes as Pakistan continues its fight against the incurable illness, which mainly affects malnourished children under the age of five with weak immunity.
Polio, caused by the poliovirus, invades the nervous system, leading to paralysis or even death. Although there is no cure for polio, vaccination stands as the most effective method to shield children from this crippling disease.
Despite the ongoing battle with polio, Pakistan, along with Afghanistan, has made significant strides. Thanks to the government’s relentless efforts, the number of annual cases has seen a remarkable decline. The most recent case was reported in Shikarpur on June 1, bringing the total number of polio cases in Pakistan this year to four.
During their meeting in Islamabad, Gates expressed unwavering confidence in the joint efforts of the Pakistani government and the Gates Foundation. With a sustained vaccination campaign and the steadfast commitment of both parties, the drive to eradicate polio is set to regain momentum, effectively ending the disease following the recent surge in environmental detection.
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Gates also emphasized the significance of Pakistan’s utilization of data science tools and digital technology as critical resources to enhance the lives of its citizens. These tools are being used to track and monitor the spread of polio, identify high-risk areas, and ensure the efficient delivery of vaccines. He lauded the premier for his continued dedication and personal interest in eradicating wild polio from the country.
PM Shehbaz, in turn, updated Gates on the government’s efforts to achieve economic stability, advancements in digital financial services, expanded health coverage, climate change adaptation, and initiatives to combat poliovirus. He also commended the Gates Foundation for its crucial support of the government’s initiatives to digitize the economy, which has significantly accelerated the pace of these initiatives and their impact on the ground.
The PM highlighted that both the government and the Gates Foundation share numerous goals, including closing the gender gap, expanding health coverage, enhancing food security, climate change adaptation, and financial inclusion. He expressed gratitude to the Gates Foundation as the largest donor for the polio eradication program, outlining a robust and focused strategy to counter the rising threats of wild poliovirus infections. ‘Wild poliovirus infections’ refers to cases of polio caused by the naturally occurring, wild strain of the virus, as opposed to cases caused by the weakened, vaccine-derived strain.
Furthermore, the PM reiterated the government’s steadfast commitment to eradicating polio as the highest priority, assuring that all state resources would be mobilized to safeguard polio workers. PM Shehbaz also pledged personal oversight of national efforts until the crippling disease is eradicated from Pakistani soil.
Both parties agreed to continue their collaboration not only to eliminate polio but also to bolster health systems across the provinces, striving for prosperity for all Pakistanis, particularly women and girls.
The visit followed an invitation extended by the Prime Minister during his meeting with Gates in Riyadh on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.
