A progress review meeting on strengthening routine immunization in Balochistan took place in Quetta on 29 October, bringing together provincial officials, development partners and district health leaders to assess implementation and plan next steps for routine immunization across high-risk districts.
Mr. Saqib Kakar, Additional Secretary Health, chaired the meeting attended by Mr. Anwar-ul-Haq (NEOC Coordinator), Mr. Inam-ul-Haq (EOC Coordinator) and Dr. Aftab Kakar (Provincial Coordinator EPI), alongside representatives from the Gates Foundation and partner staff from Aga Khan University, WHO and UNICEF, plus District Health Officers from the seven high-risk districts of Balochistan.
The meeting, facilitated by the Aga Khan University team, reviewed progress under Gates Foundation supported initiatives SRIP and PPHI and heard key updates from the Provincial EPI on upcoming activities. Participants examined performance indicators and operational challenges with a clear focus on strengthening routine immunization delivery in underserved areas.
Representatives of the Gates Foundation, including Mr. Michael Galway, Dr. Rehan Hafiz and Mr. Khurram Butt, acknowledged progress under both projects and stressed the need to further enhance performance and embed sustainability into ongoing interventions to secure long-term gains in routine immunization coverage.
The Additional Secretary Health thanked the Gates Foundation for continued support to both routine immunization and the polio eradication programme and committed to a phased transition to government ownership of selected interventions currently funded by the Foundation, underlining the provincial intent to sustain gains locally.
