High-Level GPEI delegation visits Pakistan to address Polio Crisis
A high-level delegation from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) visited Islamabad for the second time following a concerning rise in polio cases in Pakistan. The team met with senior officials to discuss strategies for overcoming this growing health crisis
Pakistani media reported that during this visit, the delegation met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, to discuss strengthening vaccination campaigns, addressing challenges in eradicating polio, and ensuring a polio-free future for the country.
The high-level delegation included two senior officials from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and UNICEF.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that his government prioritizes polio eradication. He stated, “A strategic National Emergency Action Plan is being implemented to reverse the surge in virus cases, with senior ministers and secretaries directly overseeing and coordinating efforts to combat the current outbreak.”
Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries in the world where the poliovirus continues to circulate. Not only have these two nations struggled to eradicate polio, but they have also seen a rise in positive cases over the past three years, compounded by complex crises and instability.
The rising polio cases in Pakistan and Afghanistan highlight significant gaps in healthcare delivery, especially in remote and conflict-ridden areas. The challenges include limited access to vaccination campaigns, misinformation, and societal resistance to healthcare interventions.
Global health experts stress that a coordinated approach involving international partnerships and local stakeholders is critical to eradicating polio. Failure to contain the virus could have global consequences, risking the resurgence of a disease that the world has been close to eliminating.
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