Stakeholders reaffirm commitment to fight polio

Islamabad : A reception hosted by French Ambassador Nicolas Galey at his residence here brought the Polio Oversight Board members and local stakeholders together to reinforce their shared commitment to fighting polio in Pakistan.

Currently, a POB delegation, led by board chair Dr Chris Elias and comprising Dr Hanan Balkhy of the World Health Organisation, Sanjay Wijesekera of UNICEF and Dr Andrea Fristedt of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, is currently in Pakistan to engage with local authorities and explore strategies to strengthen polio eradication efforts amid rising cases, which have reached a total of 50 this year. The French envoy highlighted the significance of the gathering by recognising the diverse roles played by the many organisations present in the anti-polio fight.

He said that the urgent nature of the polio eradication issue, both for Pakistan and for the world, made such collaboration essential. "This event aims to bring together actors as numerous as they are varied, from national authorities to international organisations, both public and private," he said, adding that the commitment to eradicating polio in Pakistan is stronger than ever.

Mr Galey said such visits were essential to maintain a "concrete vision of the situation and efforts on the ground, to understand what is working well and what may need to be improved, and to adjust strategies to ensure that all actors are working effectively to achieve the objectives set," he said.

The ambassador said the POB had been reassured by the level of political support fr om Pakistani authorities, praising the Pakistani prime minister's focal person on polio Ayesha Raza Farooq for her leadership in coordinating the national and international response.

He also paid tribute to health workers and security forces for working tirelessly in challenging conditions to carry out vaccination campaigns across Pakistan amid challenges like misconceptions and opposition to vaccination. Mr Galey said in support of global efforts to eradicate polio in Pakistan, the French government announced a significant contribution through a concessional loan of 50 million euros (approximately $55 million), made available by France’s development agency AFD.

"This funding, signed in July 2024 in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, helps the World Health Organisation implement essential elements of the polio programme, including salaries for health workers and monitoring of vaccination campaigns," he said.

The French ambassador reiterated the importance of global cooperation in tackling challenges that transcend borders. He highlighted the interco­nnectedness of global issues such as disease, climate change, and migration, saying multilateralism remains the most effective way to address shared challenges.