Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani received the TB Champion Award in Washington D.C.

Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani received the TB Champion Award in Washington DC today. The award was presented at a ceremony organized on the occasion of special USAID World TB Day event at the U.S. Institute of Peace.

President of the World Bank, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, senior officials of the US Government and civil society were present on the occasion.

Ambassador Jilani while receiving the award thanked USAID, World Bank and other international partners for joining Pakistan in its efforts to combat the debilitating disease. He stressed that with continued action, investment, and partnership, we can end the global TB epidemic.

Ambassador also highlighted the state-run health insurance programme launched by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in January, 2016 and described it as the first step towards making Pakistan a welfare state.

Pakistan has been selected by USAID and key development partners to receive the prestigious award in recognition of the country’s outstanding work in combating tuberculosis (TB). Pakistan has shown outstanding political and programmatic leadership in the fight against TB and multidrug-resistant (MDR-TB).

Over the past five years, the Government of Pakistan has proactively involved the private sector in the diagnosis and treatment of MDR-TB patients in urban areas and increased the number of MDR-TB detection and treatment sites. Pakistan support for high-quality MDR-TB diagnosis and treatment programs have helped in achieving one of the highest MDR-TB treatment success rates in the world.

Assistant to USAID Administrator Mr. Larry Sampler recognized the Government of Pakistan’s leadership in this effort through this year’s TB Champion award.

President of the World Bank, Dr. Jim Yong Kim lauded the reform agenda of the Government of Pakistan and its people centric-policies.

March 17, 2016
Washington D.C