Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Ms. Saira Afzal Tarar met with Mr. Dan Feldma the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan (SRAP)

Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Ms. Saira Afzal Tarar, today, met with Mr. Dan Feldman, the Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan (SRAP) in the Department of State. Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani accompanied the Minister. Deputy SRAP Jonathan Carpenter and senior officials from USAID joined the SRAP.

Health Minister apprised the SRAP about the various measures, both at the Federal and Provincial levels, being taken by the government to contain and eliminate the infectious diseases including polio. Health Minister informed that due to coordinated polio campaigns in all provinces and FATA, the number of polio cases had drastically reduced in 2015 and the government was hopeful to eradicate polio from Pakistan in near future. Minister also shared with the US side the highlights of the vision document of the Ministry of Health which outlines the national priorities and actions to improve the health sector and address the specific challenges in public health.

Appreciating the efforts of the government of Pakistan to contain polio virus with a view to its early eradication, SRAP Feldman assured the Minister that the United States was ready to work with Pakistan in controlling other infectious diseases as well. Given the high prevalence of virus in the border region, Mr. Feldman noted that enhanced coordination between Pakistan and Afghanistan including better regulation of the border would contribute to the efforts of all stake holders to eradicate polio and other infectious diseases from the region.

Health Minister Tarar is on an official visit to the US to review bilateral cooperation for control of infectious diseases.

September 08, 2015
Washington DC