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Pakistan

Pakistan: GSK donates 345,000 Hepatitis-A vaccine for quake victims

Glaxo Smithkline, a multi-national pharmaceutical concern has donated 345,000 doses of Hepatitis-A vaccine for the earthquake survivors.
The vaccine was formally handed over to National Co- ordinator, EPI and Executive Director, National Institute of Health, Prof. K.A. Karamat here by a team of GSK comprising, Fouad Benghalem, Senior Vice President Middle East and North Africa and Salman Burney, Vice President and Managing Director, GSK Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Salman Burney informed that vaccine worth US $ 6.5 million has been flown in from Belgium with the assistance of NATO.

Fouad Benghalem said GSK was committed to providing relief to the quake survivors.

He said the contribution would surely help save valuable lives.

Prof. K.A. Karamat expressing his gratitude on the occasion, said the vaccine will be given to children in the relief camps set up across the affected areas to prevent them from Hepatitis-A.

He said a formal request was made by the Vaccine Development Task Force of the Ministry of Health to GSK to donate the vaccine for the quake-stricken population.

Dr. Rehan Hafiz, National Programme Manager, EPI Pakistan was also present on the occasion.

Earlier, the delegation met Secretary Health, Syed Anwar Mahmood. Talking to the delegation, the Secretary said the introduction of Hepatitis-A vaccination will augment the disease control efforts of the Government in the quake relief camps.

He said as a result of effective measures taken by the Ministry, no epidemic has been reported from the earthquake hit areas.