Global commitment to eradicate polio in Pakistan continues

Global donors and partners have renewed their promise to help eliminate poliovirus from Pakistan. The Pakistani government hosted a meeting in Islamabad with international donors and development partners to discuss efforts toward a polio-free future for children. The meeting was organized by the Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative. It highlighted progress made, challenges faced, and strategies in place to eradicate the virus. Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister's Focal Person for Polio Eradication, thanked donors for their ongoing support. She emphasized that 2025 is a crucial year to stop the virus's spread and noted efforts to improve vaccine acceptance through community engagement. Dr. Dapeng Luo, representing the World Health Organization in Pakistan, spoke about their three-decade partnership with the country. He pointed out that they have helped reduce polio cases by over 99%. Melissa Corkum, from UNICEF, stressed that polio eradication should be linked with broader child health programs. In a separate meeting, Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal spoke with Michael Galway from the Gates Foundation. They discussed future strategies for polio eradication. Kamal expressed gratitude to Bill Gates and his team for their valuable support. He emphasized that polio eradication is a national priority and noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is closely monitoring these efforts.