The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) will give Pakistan an amount of US $25 million for strengthening its immunisation services over a period of three years and US $23 million for improving its health system over a period of two years.
This information was shared with Health Secretary Khushnood Lashari during the National Interagency Coordination Committee meeting held under his chairmanship here on Friday. The forum, which brings together international partner agencies working in the health sector, pledged all-out technical and financial support for provision of better immunisation services across the country through strengthening of service delivery and introduction of new vaccines.
Addressing the meeting, Lashari reiterated the government’s commitment to improving the routine immunisation services so that every child is protected against deadly and debilitating diseases. Praising the support of international partners, he said their commitment is vital to taking forward, the agenda of child protection in Pakistan.
The national programme manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation, Dr. H B Memon, said Hepatitis B vaccination was started in 2002 and the country switched over to tetravalent (DPT-Hep-B) vaccine in 2006. This initiative costs US $60 million from 2002 to July 2008. The country has also secured GAVI support for Hib vaccine against pneumonia and meningitis in combination with DPT and Hep-B vaccine, which will be launched in July 2008 onwards. The required Pentavalent (DPT-Hep-B-Hib) vaccine for infants will be provided by GAVI and its total worth is US$ 151 million for a period of three years.
Dwelling on the need to improve routine immunisation coverage in districts that are lagging behind, National Institute of Health Executive Director Major General (r) Masood Anwar said intensive efforts are required with special strategies in these districts.
The meeting was attended by Director General Health Dr. Shahida Malik, director generals of health services of Punjab and Sindh; MNCH National Programme Manager Dr. Rehan Hafiz, WHO Representative Dr. Khalif Bile, Dr. Ibrahim El Ziq of Unicef, Professor Tariq Bhutta, chairman of the EPI Advisory Group; Captain (r) Mohammad Raza and Dr. Irtaza Ahmad on behalf of Joint Mission of WHO-Unicef and GAVI.