GAVI mission: Mother and child safety our top priority, says PM

Nawaz calls upon all the provinces to take effective measures for routine immunisation

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday listed mother and child safety through proper immunisation and better nutrition among his government’s major priorities.

His remarks came during a meeting of a high-level mission of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), led by CEO Dr Seth Berkley, at the PM House.

Routine immunisation, according to the prime minister, is an important area and all the provincial governments have been directed to take effective measures for speeding up the process so that the areas of the country lagging behind in immunisation are brought up to the level of developed parts.

While talking to The Express Tribune, a senior official at the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC) said during the meeting the GAVI mission expressed its serious concern over variation between the provinces regarding coverage of routine immunisation and also to ensure effective utilisation of the financial assistance given to Pakistan.

It was suggested that routine immunisation be treated as a national movement and all the provincial governments should ensure proper monitoring and evaluation of the coverage to reach every child on a war footing.

WHO representative Dr Ala Alwan informed the meeting that child mortality in Pakistan could be lowered by almost a quarter through immunisation while 30% cases of child mortality can be prevented through better nutrition, said a press release.

PM Nawaz appreciated the support lent by GAVI for immunisation in Pakistan. “We should make maximum use of the support being provided by GAVI to save our future generations,” the prime minister said.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Saira Afzal Tarar informed the prime minister that the confusion surrounding the procurement of vaccines in the aftermath of the 18th Amendment has recently been cleared and now the federal government would procure the vaccines through a National Procurement Committee.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2015.