Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that technology use is being increased across all health sectors, including polio eradication, to modernize public healthcare processes and enhance outcomes. During a meeting with the national anti-polio team in Islamabad, he highlighted the need for increased collaborative efforts in response to the rising number of polio-affected children in Pakistan.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Prime Minister instructed the preparation of a systematic roster for visits to polio-affected areas during anti-polio campaigns to improve their effectiveness. Emphasizing the importance of safety, he stated that the security of polio workers is paramount and must not be compromised, urging all possible measures to ensure their protection.

Prime Minister Sharif also shared that Bill Gates, Chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, commended Pakistan’s ongoing anti-polio efforts in a letter, acknowledging the dedication of the workers involved. He expressed gratitude to the Gates Foundation and both national and international partners for their support in joint efforts to eradicate polio from the country. The anti-polio campaign, he noted, is benefitting from the cooperation of local communities.