Kabul, Monday, 3 April 2017: Chief Executive Officer of the National Unity Government of Afghanistan inaugurated the Center for the National Polio Emergency Eradication Operations. At the opening ceremony the Minister of Public Health of Afghanistan, representatives of Bill Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the head of the United Nations Office for Project Services also attended.
H. E. Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer of the National Unity Government said, “Polio eradication is a national and human responsibility and added that the polio eradication program has a major priority for the Afghan government, therefore, the Afghan unity government has done a lot in this regard and it is committed to this program.”
H. E. Dr. Ferozuddin Feroz, Minister of Public Health thanked Bill Gates Foundation on the construction of the center and said, “ With the construction of this center huge facilities provided to perform and promote polio eradication activities and It is hoped that as a result of this joint efforts to completely eradicate completely the disease from Afghanistan.”
Mr. Aporwa Maliya, representative of the Bill Gates foundation emphasized that the foundation will continue assistance to the Afghan people and government. Mr. Maliya said, “Construction of the center is a major step in improving services for polio eradication and stated that this is the beginning of our joint cooperation in the field of polio eradication.”
Dr. Mohammad Hiader Reza, the head of the United Nations Office for Project Services was another speaker of the meeting who said the center has been built with all modern standards and all necessary facilities have been provided for employees.
This three storied building has been built with the financial assistance of the Bill Gates foundation, which will be used for the purpose of coordinating, organizing, planning and other polio eradication program activities. It is worth mentioning that after, completely eradication of the polio disease, the building will be used as a national center for emergency health.
