RAWALPINDI – The United States billionaire Bill Gates on Thursday telephoned Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa and felicitated him on the successful anti-polio campaign, stated the media-wing of Pakistan Army.
“Bill Gates called COAS. Acknowledged supporting efforts by Pakistan Army for successfully eradicating Polio from Pakistan. COAS appreciated his efforts towards this noble cause and assured him of continued full cooperation in the best interest of Pakistan,” tweeted Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR), Major Gen Asif Ghafoor.
https://twitter.com/OfficialDGISPR/status/1004767095580749824
Pakistan is one of only three countries in the world, along with Afghanistan and Nigeria, that suffers from endemic polio, a childhood virus that can cause paralysis or death.
The country has been battling polio for the past several years and is close to completely eradicating the crippling disease.
The number of cases has declined from 306 in 2014 to 54 in 2015, 20 in 2016 and eight in 2017.
In 2018, only one polio case has so far been reported from Dukki, Balochistan.
William Henry Gates III is an American business magnate, investor, author, philanthropist, humanitarian, and principal founder of Microsoft Corporation.
