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PERTH: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday blamed an influx of 3.5 million Afghan refugees for polio re-emergence in the country stressing that the refugees needed to be repatriated “they should go back”.
Gilani made the remarks on sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting CHOGM in Australia, while addressing a joint press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, Canadian Premier Stephen Harper and Australian Premier Ms Julia Gillard.
Gilani said Pakistan was committed to eradicating polio by the end of the current year. However, he blamed the re-emergence of polio in Pakistan on the cross-border movement of refugees on its western frontiers, orthodoxy and fanaticism in local tribes. “There is a lot of cross border movement from Afghanistan to Pakistan and we are in the middle of a war. Because of the situation even doctors cannot reach those areas where the terrain is also difficult,” he said.
(Read: Polio eradication: 132 new cases in Pakistan: UNICEF)
Replying to questions, Gilani highlighted the problem of 3.5 million Afghan refugees who crossed over to Pakistan during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and sought help of the global community in this regard. “They should go back to Afghanistan.” He said his government was also taking help from religious leaders to spread awareness about polio eradication among tribes.
The Australian Prime Minister announced a new funding of $50 million over the next four years for Global Polio Eradication Initiative which would be used to help purchase vaccines, monitor outbreaks and respond when and where needed. Cameron mentioned that polio remains an endemic in three Commonwealth countries – India, Nigeria & Pakistan.
Harper said polio eradication was a key priority of Canada’s mission in Afghanistan. He said time had come “for a final push” to eradicate the debilitating disease.
Microsoft founder Bill Gates joined leaders via video to announce a new $40 million contribution to Global Polio Eradication Initiative on behalf of Gates Foundation in support of Commonwealth commitments. Global Polio Eradication Initiative is a public-private partnership led by governments in partnership with World Health Organization, Rotary International, US Centres for Disease Control & Prevention, United Nations Children’s Fund, with support from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Fight against polio: Afghan refugees ‘should go back’ says Gilani – The Express Tribune
Gilani made the remarks on sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting CHOGM in Australia, while addressing a joint press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, Canadian Premier Stephen Harper and Australian Premier Ms Julia Gillard.
Gilani said Pakistan was committed to eradicating polio by the end of the current year. However, he blamed the re-emergence of polio in Pakistan on the cross-border movement of refugees on its western frontiers, orthodoxy and fanaticism in local tribes. “There is a lot of cross border movement from Afghanistan to Pakistan and we are in the middle of a war. Because of the situation even doctors cannot reach those areas where the terrain is also difficult,” he said.
(Read: Polio eradication: 132 new cases in Pakistan: UNICEF)
Replying to questions, Gilani highlighted the problem of 3.5 million Afghan refugees who crossed over to Pakistan during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and sought help of the global community in this regard. “They should go back to Afghanistan.” He said his government was also taking help from religious leaders to spread awareness about polio eradication among tribes.
The Australian Prime Minister announced a new funding of $50 million over the next four years for Global Polio Eradication Initiative which would be used to help purchase vaccines, monitor outbreaks and respond when and where needed. Cameron mentioned that polio remains an endemic in three Commonwealth countries – India, Nigeria & Pakistan.
Harper said polio eradication was a key priority of Canada’s mission in Afghanistan. He said time had come “for a final push” to eradicate the debilitating disease.
Microsoft founder Bill Gates joined leaders via video to announce a new $40 million contribution to Global Polio Eradication Initiative on behalf of Gates Foundation in support of Commonwealth commitments. Global Polio Eradication Initiative is a public-private partnership led by governments in partnership with World Health Organization, Rotary International, US Centres for Disease Control & Prevention, United Nations Children’s Fund, with support from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Fight against polio: Afghan refugees ‘should go back’ says Gilani – The Express Tribune