ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday expressed its firm resolve to strengthen national mechanisms and capacities, as well as global partnerships for robust health systems, to prevent and respond to all diseases and epidemics.
On the first International Day of Epidemic Preparedness commemorated on Sunday, the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a press release that the day also reminded of the importance of reducing poverty, inequality and of achieving sustainable development for all, by targeted interventions and investments in health, education, environment and water and sanitation, with a view to combating all diseases and epidemics, including the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The Covid-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of strengthening and leveraging international cooperation as well as multilateralism.
“Pakistan stresses the significance of partnership and solidarity among states, regional and international organisations in all stages of epidemic management and its associated socio-economic challenges,” the spokesperson added.
In this regard, the needs of developing countries should be prioritised in terms of equitable distribution of vaccines and medicines and building their fiscal space to combat the pandemic through debt relief.
The World Health Organisation also required political and financial support to enable it to enhance its capability for early identification, better coordination and prevention of diseases and epidemics.
“Pakistan stands ready to contribute to all such endeavors and initiatives at relevant UN and WHO platforms,” the spokesperson said.
He said as a country of 200 million people, Pakistan’s state and society had shown tremendous resilience against myriad of health challenges and pandemics.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan’s comprehensive national response to the pandemic was characterised by efficient and seamless coordination among all stakeholders through the National Command Operation Centre, pragmatic policy of smart lockdowns and effective healthcare management through the Pakistan Preparedness and Response Plan for Covid-19, he said.
Various streams of the Ehsaas Programme are providing social safety nets against the ravages of the pandemic to the poor and the most vulnerable. These measures constitute important elements of lessons learnt by the country to combat future epidemics, the spokesperson added.
Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2020