In a remarkable achievement for Pakistan’s healthcare sector, Dr. Shahzad Baig, the national coordinator of the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, has earned a place among Time magazine’s list of 100 global healthcare leaders. This recognition brings immense pride to Pakistan’s healthcare community.
Dr. Baig’s inclusion in the ‘TIME100 HEALTH’ underscores his influential role and unwavering commitment to eliminating polio within Pakistan. His leadership and dedication have garnered international acclaim, positioning Pakistan prominently on the global healthcare stage.
Before spearheading anti-polio efforts in Pakistan, Dr. Baig played a pivotal role as a technical advisor in Nigeria’s successful polio eradication campaign, culminating in Nigeria’s polio-free status in 2020. Time magazine predicts that, under Dr. Baig’s guidance, Pakistan is on track to achieve a similar milestone.
Jeffrey Kluger, editor at large of Time magazine, authored Dr. Baig’s profile, commending the significant reduction in polio cases since his tenure began. In 2019, polio claimed the lives or caused disabilities in 147 individuals in Pakistan, whereas by 2023, only six children were affected. Kluger lauds Dr. Baig’s ambitious goal of reducing this number to zero by 2026.
Despite formidable challenges, including extremist attacks on polio workers and misinformation campaigns against vaccination, Dr. Baig has orchestrated the deployment of 400,000 vaccinators and 80,000 security personnel. This concerted effort has resulted in the immunization of over 90 million children in Pakistan this year alone, with an additional 24 million targeted in a springtime vaccination campaign.
