Bill Gates, COAS discuss Pakistan’s resolve for comprehensive Polio eradication

RAWALPINDI: Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has praised the Pakistan Army for assisting with the countrywide polio campaign and ensuring sufficient reach and coverage.

Bill Gates also lauded Pakistan’s accomplishment against COVID-19 despite resource constraints during a telephonic discussion with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

The success, according to the Army Chief, was due to a truly national response, which was carried out through the NCOC mechanism, which allowed for resource efficiency.

Read more:PM expresses commitment for eradication of polio from country

General Qamar Javed Bajwa said it was a national cause for which everyone involved deserves recognition.

The COAS appreciated Bill Gates’s efforts on behalf of this great cause and promised him continuous support.

During the session, issues such as Pakistan’s resolve for comprehensive Polio eradication and COVID-19 were discussed.

Note that after celebrating the polio-free milestone for over a year, Pakistan reports its first case after a span of fifteen months in North Waziristan on April 23.

Read more: Japan announces $4.35m grant to support polio programme in Pakistan

a 15-month old boy was found paralysed by the wild poliovirus on April 22 in North Waziristan.

Pakistan national polio laboratory confirmed the virus in the patient.

Federal Minister for Health Abdul Qadir Patel maintained that all facilities will be bought into play to do away with the disease.

Dr Shahzad Baig, the Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre for Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme (NEOC) took to his Twitter and appealed to the parents to go for anti-polio drops.

“Following the confirmation of this case in NW and a positive virus sample in Bannu, our brave health workers are working tirelessly to ensure that the virus does not spread elsewhere,” he added.