* All product/brand names, logos, and trademarks are property of their respective owners.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has donated $1 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) to support emergency healthcare services in flood-affected regions of Pakistan, according to a joint announcement by the foundation and WHO Pakistan.
The grant is aimed at reaching over 465,000 vulnerable individuals, including pregnant women, newborn babies, young children, older people, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) residing in 33 high-risk districts across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan.
Heavy monsoon rains in recent months have once again triggered widespread flooding, damaging homes, displacing families, and overwhelming public health systems. The $1 million support from the Gates Foundation will enable WHO to scale up:
Disease surveillance and outbreak response
Distribution of emergency medical supplies
Health coordination and response management
Risk communication and community engagement
WHO plans to deploy the aid over a six-month emergency period to ensure timely medical assistance to those in flood-stricken areas.
Dr. Dapeng Luo, WHO Representative in Pakistan, thanked the Gates Foundation for the timely assistance.
“This support comes at a crucial time. It will allow us to better protect the health and wellbeing of those most at risk in flood-hit districts.”
He said in an official statement.
He added that continued investment in emergency preparedness and public health systems is essential, especially as Pakistan confronts increasingly frequent and severe climate-related disasters.
This is not the first time the Gates Foundation has stepped forward to support Pakistan in times of crisis. In 2022, it contributed $7.5 million to WHO and partner agencies for extensive flood relief across Sindh and Balochistan, including mobile health camps and maternity care services.
The latest $1 million donation reaffirms the foundation’s long-standing commitment to public health in Pakistan, where it has played a central role in polio eradication, maternal health programs, and disaster response.
Local and national officials have welcomed the announcement, calling it a “lifesaving intervention.” Health departments in the affected provinces have already begun coordination efforts with WHO teams on the ground to ensure efficient deployment of resources.
Ambassador Masood Khan also praised the Gates Foundation, stating: “This is not just a donation—it is a statement of global solidarity with the people of Pakistan.”
As the frequency of climate-induced disasters rises, Pakistan continues to face the dual challenge of humanitarian crises and fragile healthcare infrastructure. International support like that from the Gates Foundation is expected to play a vital role in bridging service gaps and supporting long-term resilience.
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
