The new UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, Aida Girma-Melaku, met the Foreign Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, here on Wednesday and presented her credentials. She recently arrived in the country and assumed charge of her office.
The foreign minister welcomed Girma-Melaku and appreciated the UNICEF's continued support to Pakistan's National Development Programme especially in the context of improving social indicators pertaining to children and women in the country said a press release.
Khawaja Asif said that polio eradication, reduction in child mortality and addressing similar social issues are common priorities for the Government and UNICEF. He assured Girma-Melaku of all his support in UNICEF's pursuit of its mandate in Pakistan.
Girma-Melaku commended the Government of Pakistan on its efforts and achievements to-date in reducing maternal and child mortality. She emphasized the need to further strengthen routine immunization and improve access to basic health services, especially for marginalized communities in hard to reach areas. Referring to the tireless efforts of hundreds of thousands of the frontline polio workers, Ms. Girma-Melaku praised the government-led Polio Eradication Initiative for edging ever close to a polio-free Pakistan.
She apprised the Minister of UNICEF's ongoing efforts to reduce neonatal mortality which will also help sustain the gains by the polio eradication programme. She mentioned that UNICEF's support to the federal and provincial governments in enrolling out-of-school children has borne positive results but nearly 22 million children of the school going age still remain out of school.
In the framework of the country's UN Delivering as One Programme, Girma-Melaku will head a multi sectoral operation in education, health, nutrition, child protection, water and sanitation, as well as polio eradication. Girma-Melaku brings with her nearly 30 years of experience focusing on planning, leading and managing complex development and humanitarian assistance programmes. She joined UNICEF in 1991 and has since worked in various capacities. In addition to being UNICEF's Representative in Uganda, Malawi and South Africa, Girma-Melaku also served as Deputy Representative of UNICEF in Mozambique and Somalia.
Originally from Ethiopia, Ms. Girma-Melaku is a naturalized citizen of Italy. She holds a Master's degree in Development Economics and a Certificate in Management and Financing of Health Programmes in Developing Countries from Harvard University, USA, amongst other qualifications.-PR