Fighting polio: Bill Gates vows to help save K-P children

Praises provincial govt for its efforts


Our Correspondent March 04, 2015
Bill Gates. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: US business magnate and philanthropist offered to extend all possible support for the eradication of polio from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) in a late-night phone conversation with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan.

“We will provide every possible support to save the children of K-P from a disease like polio,” the chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the PTI.

He said the number of polio cases in Pakistan is greater when compared to other countries of the world.

Gates also appreciated the provincial government’s efforts to combat the crippling disease. In response, Imran said his government was taking every step to address the health-related issues in the province, the statement added.

“K-P will soon be free from polio,” the PTI chief said, adding that the eradication of polio would guarantee a prosperous future for the country.

Imran told Gates that his party’s government in K-P had taken the federal government on board regarding its ‘Sehat ka Ittehad’ campaign. During the phone conversation, Gates also expressed sorrow over the terrorist attack on APS in Peshawar.

Last week, the K-P government launched a public awareness campaign about nine childhood diseases including polio vaccination in Peshawar in which more than 1,952 health workers along with 981 PTI volunteers took part.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4th, 2015.

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