HHS SECRETARY LEAVITT'S MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002803 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL PREF PGOV SOCI PK SUBJECT: HHS SECRETARY LEAVITT'S MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On August 19, Health and Human Services Secretary Leavitt met with Prime Minister Gilani at the Prime Minister's official residence. The Prime Minister talked about the importance of the health and education sectors in Pakistan's efforts to combat terrorism. He emphasized that poverty and lack of health and education facilities were primary causes for the rise of extremism and militancy in the country. The Prime Minister also talked about the GOP's Basic Health Unit (BHU) initiative, the need to combat hepatitis and improve polio immunization coverage, as well as expressing appreciation for cooperation from the U.S. on development projects. Secretary Leavitt talked about the opportunity to build a vaccine industry in Pakistan. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Gilani outlined the GOP's efforts towards combating extremism through political dialogue, social and economic development targeting at-risk areas, and, where needed, the use of military force. The military operations against extremists, especially in the Bajaur area, have produced 300,000 refugees who lack shelter, food, and medicine. (Note: These estimates are probably high. Most observers cite numbers closer to 100,000 internally displaced persons fleeing the Bajaur conflict.) Pakistan's Disaster Management Authority has been managing the crisis, however recent flooding in NWFP and Punjab provinces has placed an added burden on the Disaster Management Authority's workload. ¶3. (SBU) Emphasizing three health initiatives of particular concern, the Prime Minister explained his plan to build a system of Basic Heath Units (BHUs),combat hepatitis and provide polio vaccinations. For the long-term, he said that he would like to see a basic health insurance system in Pakistan and to provide access to healthcare services for all Pakistanis. The Prime Minister said the BHUs established in the earthquake-affected areas in Kashmir could serve as a model for getting basic healthcare to areas affected by military operations or disasters as well as remote or rural areas with no other medical access. The Prime Minister noted that a system of BHUs could help communities solve eighty percent of their problems locally, at the grassroots level. ¶4. (SBU) The Prime Minister also talked about GOP initiatives against hepatitis (especially hepatitis B) and polio. He said that hepatitis was a problem throughout the country, but that Sindh province was particularly affected. On polio, he expressed the need to work with the populations leaving Bajaur and other areas affected by military operations, as many of these populations had previously been difficult to reach. ¶5. (SBU) Secretary Leavitt recapped his productive meetings with the Minister of Health Sherry Rehman, both while she was in Washington and during his trip to Pakistan. Leavitt noted a number of areas where the U.S. could assist Pakistan in its health initiatives, and urged closer bilateral cooperation. On hepatitis, he hoped there would be an opportunity to begin building a vaccine industry in Pakistan and that the U.S. could potentially provide technical assistance in developing statutes for the manufacturing, safety and labeling of vaccines. Leavitt commented on his firsthand knowledge of the success of BHUs in Pakistan as seen during his visit to the earthquake-affected zone and praised the work done in the aftermath of the 2006 earthquake. He agreed with the Prime Minister that local empowerment could be a very effective way to solve problems. ¶6. (SBU) The Prime Minister briefly mentioned successful meetings he had during his trip to Washington, especially on the subject of education. He closed the meeting by expressing his appreciation of the United States' support for democracy in Pakistan as well as the multi-dimensional cooperation between the U.S. and Pakistan in international and bilateral forums. ¶7. (U) This cable has not been cleared by Secretary Leavitt. PATTERSON