KABUL (BNA): In a meeting with a high-level delegation from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Minister of Public Health, Mawlavi Noor Jalal Jalali, reaffirmed the commitment to eradicate polio and other contagious diseases.
The meeting included representatives from UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, all of whom are currently visiting Afghanistan.
The Ministry of Public Health released a statement highlighting the importance of vaccination and access to primary healthcare services as essential for combating these diseases.
The meeting featured key participants, including Mawlavi Abdul Wali Haqqani, Deputy Minister for Healthcare Services, Dr. Hanan Balkhi, WHO Regional Representative, and Dr. Tajuddin Avila, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan.
Discussions centered on expanding healthcare services and enhancing cooperation in critical areas of the health sector. The participants emphasized the need for transparency in healthcare delivery, prioritization of services, and a coordinated approach to prevent communicable diseases, particularly polio.
Minister Jalali urged international organizations to align their efforts with the newly developed National Health Policy of Afghanistan, emphasizing a strategic focus on vaccination and primary healthcare access. He assured partners of the ministry’s commitment to ongoing cooperation in polio vaccination campaigns and addressing existing challenges.
WHO’s Dr. Hanan Balkhi praised the ministry’s efforts in improving vaccination initiatives and treating drug-addicted patients, while also stressing the need for capacity building among healthcare workers.
Dr. Chris Elias, Chair of the Polio Oversight Board, expressed that the delegation’s goal is to identify effective strategies for completely eliminating the polio virus through improved and standardized services.
