Saira Tarar calls for strengthening cooperation in ECO countries

20 May, 2015

ISLAMABAD: Minister for National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar called for strengthened cooperation in improving health indicators between countries of the Economic Cooperation Organization that comprises of ten nations including Pakistan.

She said this while addressing Health Ministers of ECO countries during the World Health Assembly being held in Geneva.

Besides shared cultural and historical links we can use the existing infrastructural and business links to further fortify ongoing efforts to address issues like health system strengthening, access to equitable and quality health services and fight against communicable and no communicable diseases.

Endorsing the Plan Action for health cooperation in ECO region the Minister urged for practical steps to reach out to each other, share experiences and expertise in diverse areas of health.

The minister said Pakistan was the largest country in the ECO and was willing to play its role in strengthening the organization and supporting countries of the region.

Earlier, the Minister had a detailed meeting with Chief Executive of Global Alliance for Vaccines and immunization Dr. Seth Berkeley and President Global Foundation of Bill Gates Foundation Dr. Chris Elias.

The Minister informed them that Pakistan was ready to introduced injectable Polio vaccine in its routine immunization program for children.

She reiterated the commitment of the government to improve the access to immunization services.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2015

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