RAWALPINDI: General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of the Army Staff, and Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, had a phone conversation on Wednesday about the polio eradication programme.

While discussing the polio eradication drive in Pakistan, Mr Gates appreciated Pakistan Army’s help in enabling the campaign through provision of security, monitoring and bridging of capacity gaps.

The army chief said that it was a national duty and Army played a part in the significant initiatives undertaken by the government of Pakistan and healthcare departments of the provinces. The healthcare workers who played the most important part in polio drive had also acted as the frontline defence against Covid-19.

Bill Gates praises Army’s role in anti-polio drive

The COAS said that despite Covid-19 outbreak in the country, Pakistan Army in support of the government’s efforts had made preparations to restart the anti-polio campaign in the coming weeks.

The two discussed the challenges in the face of pandemic threat and efforts to enhance the resilience of population through education, flexible healthcare management and use of technology.

The army chief thanked Mr Gates for his foundation’s efforts towards the noble cause and said that every initiative aimed at betterment of Pakistan and its people would be fully supported and appreciated.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2020