Islamabad, In a meeting to bolster bilateral ties in the health sector, U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Donald Blome, met with the Federal Health Minister Dr. Nadeem Jan. Both dignitaries explored avenues for future collaboration, focusing on areas like malnutrition, pandemic preparedness, and health system digitization. The session underscored the importance of health diplomacy, the ongoing fight against polio in Pakistan, and the vision for universal health coverage in the nation.
According to a news release by the Press International Department, the U.S. Ambassador, accompanied by USAID Mission Director Kate Somvongsiri, termed the cooperation between the Ministry and the U.S. government as exemplary. Dr. Nadeem Jan extended his gratitude for the consistent and purpose-driven support from the U.S. government, especially highlighting contributions from the U.S. Agency for International Development and Centers for Disease Control.
The discussion further encompassed the outcomes of the initial two rounds of the Pak-U.S. Health Dialogue. The Health Minister shed light on Pakistan’s ambition behind hosting the first Global Health Security Summit, emphasizing the critical need for global preparedness before pandemics strike. Dr. Jan underscored that health matters should remain apolitical to foster robust international cooperation, noting, “Diseases have no borders nor do viruses discriminate between races and nationalities.”
Speaking about domestic health initiatives, Dr. Jan shared his vision for Universal Health Coverage and the ongoing efforts to overhaul the primary health-care system in Pakistan. With support from the World Health Organization, 430 Basic Health Units are currently being revamped. Dr. Jan also mentioned the ongoing initiative to digitalize the country’s entire health system.
A significant portion of the discussion was centered on combating malnutrition in Pakistan. Dr. Jan expressed the need to pool resources and map out areas and communities most in need to allocate resources effectively. The U.S. Ambassador showed a profound interest in the matter and assured a targeted approach towards malnutrition, agreeing on the establishment of a technical group to further this collaboration.
Discussing the continued fight against polio, Dr. Jan highlighted the country’s strategy, mentioning strong civil-military coordination and the utilization of 250,000 polio workers for integrated health interventions.
Ambassador Blome reaffirmed the U.S.’ commitment to support Pakistan in various health sectors, from nutrition to infectious disease control. The Ambassador was informed about the role of mobile laboratories, provided by the U.S. government, which are now operational in different provinces and play a vital role in controlling epidemics.