WHO chief hails Pakistan's efforts for polio eradication

ISLAMABAD: Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday lauded the efforts of Pakistan for polio eradication.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that Pakistan would soon become a polio free state though joint efforts and expressed satisfaction over the measures and reforms taken by the government.

He visited the polio emergency operations center and appreciated the performance of its officials. The WHO chief said that it was the time to make Pakistan a polio free country.

Briefing the WHO chief on anti-polio drive, Federal Health Minister Aamir Mehmood Kiani said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is committed to eliminate polio from the country. He termed polio workers national heroes.

Earlier,WHO DG Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Sunday, arrived in Pakistan to attend a polio donors’ conference in Islamabad.

The conference is scheduled to be held in Islamabad on Monday (today) at the Prime Minister House. Dr Ghebreyesus would also hold meetings with Prime Minister Imran Khan and other high officials during his visit.

The Ministry of National Health Services and Regulations will brief the participants of the donors’ conference about the initiatives taken by the Pakistani government against the disease. Officials will also outline the next three years requirements for eradication of the crippling disease from the country, sources had said.