UNITED NATIONS: A senior Pakistani diplomat has told UNICEF’s Executive Board that Pakistan has made “significant progress” towards the complete elimination of polio despite challenges.
Ambassador Munir Akram said during the UNICEF Executive Board’s special session on Polio eradication that Pakistan remains committed to the complete elimination of polio within the set timeline for its eradication by 2026.
The Executive Board reviews UNICEF’s activities and approves its policies, country programs, and budgets. It comprises thirty-six members, representing the 5 regional groups of member countries at the United Nations. Its work is coordinated by the Bureau, comprising the President and 4 Vice-Presidents, each officer representing one of the 5 regional groups.
In his remarks, the Pakistani diplomat said that the unprecedented 2022 floods in Pakistan had adversely affected its polio vaccination drives. Despite that, he added, due to the concerted efforts by the government and the international partners, only six cases of polio were detected last year.
This year, the envoy said the Pakistani government has set a target to immunize 45 million kids, and the caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar had already kick-started this drive.
Munir Akram said that dedicated efforts will be made to achieve that target. To do so, he said, Pakistan will need technical and financial cooperation from all its relevant international partners, adding that 205 million dollars were required for polio programs this year, but noted there was a shortfall of 95 million dollars.
He urged all donors and partners to contribute generously to the polio elimination efforts and ensure that children were fully vaccinated.
Pakistan Enters Final Stages in Fight Against Polio
He said that Pakistan has entered the final stages of the fight against polio. Urgent and bold actions are required to eradicate polio by 2026. After smallpox, polio can be the second disease to be eliminated.
Opening the discussion, UNICEF’s Executive Director Catherine Russel declared that Polio elimination in the world was “finally within reach.”
Catherine said that the wild poliovirus is confined to a few districts in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
