ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Federal Minister for Health Dr Nadeem Jan on Monday said that a support of $100 million had been obtained from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) for the eradication of polio.
Addressing the “Reaching the last mile” forum related to polio at COP28 in the United Arab Emirates, the minister said that this was a major accomplishment. He said that the efforts towards the eradication of polio had achieved significant success.
He expressed special gratitude to the IDB, the United Arab Emirates and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for their support in providing assistance for the eradication of polio, the official news agency reported.
Dr Jan pledged full determination for the eradication of polio from Pakistan. He said that the grant allocated for the eradication of polio was being efficiently utilised, ensuring effective expenditure.
The minister said, “We are ensuring the fulfillment of the desired objectives for the eradication of polio with utmost certainty.”
He added that for the eradication of polio, existing resources would be utilised in line with the broader agenda of Global Health Security.
The minister emphasised that our strategy for the eradication of the disease was based on four practical pillars. The first pillar involves collaboration and engagement with all stakeholders, the second pillar focuses on integration, while the third pillar is innovation and fourth is investment sensitive operations, he added.
Last week, a polio virus was confirmed in a nine-month-old child in Orakzai district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to a spokesperson of the Ministry of Health on Saturday, with this fresh case, the number of cases in the country this year increased to six.
He said that the confirmation of the virus in 20 environmental samples from 12 districts of the country was alarming.
“The virus has affected another child of our country,” he said and added that children under the age of five were especially at risk from this virus.
