ISLAMABAD: National Health Services (NHS) Minister Aamer Kiani has been elected to the board of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), giving Pakistan representation on the board of the world`s largest funding agency in the health sector.

Mr Kiani was elected to the GAVI board in an election during the 65th World Health Organisation regional committee meeting in Khartoum, Sudan.

`GAVI spends billions of dollarsin as many as 70 countries across the globe, and there are only six countries on its board. The powerful board not only decides which vaccines should be given to countries but it also makes decisions about the induction of new vaccines in its programme. Moreover, it decides how much money should be allocated for each country, NHS Director General Dr Asad Hafeez told Dawn.

`Although we would represent developing countries on the board, at the same time we would be able to watch our interest. We will remain a member of the board until 2020, and it would help usboost the immunity level of our children,` he added.

A statement issued by the NHS ministry said the country`s elevation to the position was reflective of the international health fraternity`s growing confidence in the country`s health leadership.

Pakistan was also elected to the `pricing and marketing committee`, an important subcommittee of the board. Functions of the board include setting policies and strategies for GAVI and amending its by-laws and other internal guidehnes and procedures necessary for the administration and management of the VaccineAlliance.

NHS Director General Dr Hafeez was also awarded the A.T. Shousha Award for excellence in public health by the WHO in recognition of his contribution to the field of public health globally, at the regional levelandin Pakistan.

Although Pakistanis have been shortlisted for this award a number of times, Dr Hafeez is the first to receive it. He has been the chair of the highest global decision-making body in health, the WHO executive board, and is the author of a number of research papers in international journals.