Latest news with #ShabanaSaleem
Express Tribune
29-06-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
$18.7m pandemic response launched
Pakistan has launched the implementation of a $18.7 million project under the pandemic fund to strengthen its pandemic preparedness and response systems. Supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the initiative will establish "One Health Units" across the country through a coordinated approach linking human, animal, and environmental health sectors. Led by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination and supported by the National Institute of Health (NIH), the initiative emphasises the urgent need for integrated action across human, animal, and environmental health systems. The launch event, held in Islamabad, brought together over 70 stakeholders, including senior government officials from the ministries of health, food security, and climate change, as well as representatives from provincial authorities and development partners. "The pandemic fund presents a critical opportunity for countries like Pakistan to bolster their national health security. The integration of the One Health approach will enable us to build resilient systems that can detect and respond to complex health threats, including zoonotic spillovers and antimicrobial resistance," said Dr Shabana Saleem, Director General of Health. Pakistan's strategy aligns with the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) and the International Health Regulations (IHR), prioritizing the One Health approach to address the fact that over 75% of emerging infectious diseases in humans originate from animals — risks further exacerbated by climate change and growing antimicrobial resistance. The One Health Units will strengthen coordinated disease surveillance, early warning systems, cross-sectoral data sharing, laboratory capacity, and workforce training. These units will be embedded within existing government systems and guided by clear mandates and governance frameworks. "The pandemic fund allows us to move from planning to action, from commitment to coordination," said Florence Rolle, FAO Representative in Pakistan. "It provides a chance to operationalize long-standing goals for zoonotic disease control, food safety, and antimicrobial resistance management." Dr Dapeng Luo, WHO Representative in Pakistan, emphasized the urgency of the effort: "The Covid pandemic was a stark reminder that building stronger health systems is no longer optional. The WHO is committed to working alongside Pakistan and its partners to save lives when the next health threat emerges." In addition to the $18.7 million from the Pandemic Fund, the initiative has mobilized $4.1 million in co-financing and $49.7 million in co-investment, underscoring strong national and international commitment to building a safer, healthier future.
Business Recorder
03-06-2025
- General
- Business Recorder
Communicable diseases: Need for collaboration to create awareness stressed
ISLAMABAD: The Director General (DG) Health of Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI) has stressed the need for close collaboration between the government agencies and the civil society organisations (CSOs) to create awareness on various communicable viral diseases including poliovirus. Speaking at an event, Dr Shabana Saleem, DG Health FDI here on Tuesday said that SCOs engagement will help bridge remaining gaps in routine immunisation coverage, especially in remote and underserved areas through advocacy, demand generation, and service delivery. The meeting marked the beginning of a transformative phase in Pakistan's Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), highlighting the significant role CSOs can play in reaching underserved populations. Dr Saleem welcomed representatives from CSOs, partner organisations, and the EPI community, expressing gratitude to Gavi, Mannion Daniels (MD), Oxford Policy Management (OPM), and the 17 selected CSOs from all the four provinces for their commitment and participation. 'CSOs bring community trust, local knowledge, and grassroots presence, making them essential partners in strengthening our immunisation programme,' said Dr Saleem. These CSOs will play a pivotal role in identifying 'zero-dose' children, mobilising communities, and extending EPI services where they are needed most. The CSOs will operate as a vital extension of national and provincial EPI systems. Federal and provincial governments' leadership in CSO engagement exemplifies how strategic collaboration can drive higher immunisation coverage. Through the government's strong commitment to work closely with CSOs at the provincial level, the immunisation programme will be further strengthened to reach more children, especially those that have proven hardest to reach, stated Carrie Madison Gheen, Senior Country Manager, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Karen Stephenson, Team Lead for the CSO Fund Manager Mechanism at Mannion Daniels stated: 'We are delighted that thanks to the collaboration with the FDI and Provincial partners, a diverse range of civil society organizations are now able to support Pakistan's efforts to increase immunization coverage. Civil society organizations will be able to deliver meaningful results together with the communities they work in.' Under Gavi's CSO Fund Manager Mechanism, Mannion Daniels and Oxford Policy Management are responsible for delivering fund management services. To date, this has involved a rigorous independent shortlisting and due diligence process including consultation with federal and provincial EPI leadership. This resulted in the selection of 17 CSOs to support immunisation efforts across Pakistan. Following this shortlisting and selection process, the CSO Fund Manager Mechanism in Pakistan now enters the grant implementation phase. At this point, Dr Saleem emphasised the importance of coordination between CSOs, the FDI, Provincial EPIs, and development partners. 'Clear KPIs and robust monitoring frameworks will guide this initiative to ensure transparency, accountability, and measurable results,' she stated. 'I urge all CSO partners to embrace this responsibility with integrity and commitment.' Dr Saleem thanked all participants for their dedication. 'Together, let's make this partnership a model of how governments and civil society can work hand in hand to ensure every child in Pakistan receives life-saving vaccines, regardless of geography or background.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
24-05-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
13 prefabricated vaccination centres built in underserved areas
ISLAMABAD: The World Health Organisation (WHO), in partnership with the Government of Pakistan, has built 13 prefabricated vaccination centres and initiated the procurement process to deliver 13 additional facilities in underserved areas across the country. Together, the centres will serve a population of over 750 000 people. The 26 centres – funded by GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance – represent the first batch of prefabricated facilities to be built over a 3-year period as part of a plan, led by the Federal Directorate of Immunisation (FDI) and its Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), to progressively expand vaccination and basic health care infrastructure across the country. In addition to providing access to lifesaving vaccines, the centres will offer essential health care services to populations that previously lacked access due to factors such as distance to the nearest public health facility and absence of transportation. The first 13 new centres are already operational in Punjab, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). The next 13, which are in the procurement phase, will be built in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). By providing land, human resources and funding for operational costs, the government and district health departments have actively contributed to establishing these centres. Of the 26 facilities, 24 will be solar-powered to ensure functionality during power cuts and natural disasters, while also contributing to climate change mitigation. 'Our partnership with WHO is essential to continue strengthening Pakistan's Expanded Programme on Immunisation and reaching the communities most in need. These vaccination centres will bring vaccines and health care services closer to the communities who needed it the most,' said Dr Shabana Saleem, Director General, (Health)/FDI. The facilities have been strategically located in areas with limited access to basic health care services and low vaccination coverage and will address a deficit of immunisation centres that currently affects 20 per cent of health facilities in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab. To build healthier societies it is crucial to deliver health for all, reaching the most vulnerable and leaving no one behind. These prefabricated structures provide safer, movable, greener and more resilient health facilities that can help reinforce primary health care and respond to emergencies more effectively, said WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr Dapeng Luo. 'WHO will continue to support the Government of Pakistan in its efforts to ensure that all children in Pakistan have access to lifesaving vaccines and to build resilient health systems that provide universal health coverage (UHC) for all, no matter who they are or where they live,' he added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
