Taliban hampering polio eradication efforts: Gates

KABUL leaders for impeding at eradicating the crippling poliovirus.

Afghanistan, however, must continue goal out to bring down polio cases to zero, Bill Gates said in an interview with Reuters.

The war conflict and power struggles in Afghanistan hampered progress in eradicating the paralyzing disease, he said, adding: "The big issue there is always with the Taliban."

In 2018, 16 polio cases were detected in Pakistan and 23 in Afghanistan. Nigeria is another country where the disease is still endemic.

"We've got to get Afghanistan and Pakistan to zero. We need government donors to stay committed," the philanthropist stressed.

PAN Monitor/mud