A key health initiative in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, funded by the Bill Gates Foundation, is facing the risk of termination due to delays in land allocation and the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) by the Local Government Department.
The Gates Foundation had pledged to build 15 health centers in the province’s 55 high-risk areas for polio, offering to cover all associated expenses until December 2025.
Since 2020, the foundation has successfully operated 15 temporary health centers, housed in rented buildings. However, with the deadline for land allocation looming, the foundation's commitment to the project hangs in the balance.
According to sources within the Health Department, four sites for the health centers have already been identified by the Local Government Department. Despite this, the department has yet to provide the necessary land and NOCs to enable the construction of permanent facilities.
The failure to secure the land before March could lead to the end of the project, which has been pivotal in the fight against polio in the region.
The Health Secretary, Adeel Shah, acknowledged the situation, noting that the Local Government Department has been urged to expedite the process. “Efforts are being made to resolve the issue and ensure the timely completion of the project,” Shah said.
With polio still a threat in several parts of the province, the establishment of these health centers is seen as a crucial step in protecting children from the virus. The delay in land allocation threatens to undermine the progress made so far and may jeopardize the broader public health objectives tied to this international collaboration.
