RAWALPINDI: Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Saturday held a telephonic conversation with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation co-founder Bill Gates in which the two discussed the coronavirus crisis and the resumption of the anti-polio campaign in Pakistan.
The foundation in December last year announced a $10 million aid for Pakistan to help eradicate the disease.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Gates appreciated the support extended by the Pakistan Army for “national polio drive, ensuring proper reach and coverage”.
Gen Bajwa said the campaign was a national cause and national efforts were being made for creating a polio-free Pakistan.
“Credit goes to grassroots workers including mobile teams, Law Enforcement Agencies and healthcare representatives,” the army chief was quoted as saying.
The two also discussed the efforts needed to effectively conduct the polio campaign amidst the pandemic.
“Mr Gates also appreciated Pakistan’s success against COVID-19 despite resource constraints. COAS attributed the success to a true national response executed through the mechanism of NCOC which allowed optimisation of resources,” the military’s media wing said.
Gates also reiterated his organisation’s “ongoing commitment to fight pandemics around the world and to support Pakistan in its goals of ending polio and improving health for every child”. Meanwhile, A seven-day anti-polio campaign kicked-off in 41 districts of Sindh and 31 districts of Punjab here on Saturday.
According to the Sindh Provincial Health Department, more than nine million children below the age of five will be administered anti-polio drops during the campaign. While in Punjab, more than 17 million children below the age of five will be administered anti-polio drops.
The polio eradication campaign will begin Balochistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir from August 17th.
The campaign is being carried out following the successful resumption of polio activities in July 2020 after a four-month suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To build immunity amongst susceptible children, vaccinators will go door-to-door during this campaign to administer the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) to children under the age of five, as well as Vitamin A supplements to children who are between 6-59 months of age.
The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme has provided vaccinators with face masks and hand sanitizers for additional protection.
Earlier today, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Bill Gates, in a telephonic conversation, discussed Pakistan’s Covid-19 response and resumption of polio eradication campaign. Both also discussed the safe start of polio eradication campaign and efforts needed for this purpose, said the ISPR.–Agencies
