Dr Shahzad Baig, serving as the national coordinator of the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, has earned recognition on Time magazine’s list of 100 global leaders in health, marking a significant honor for the healthcare community in the South Asian nation.
Acknowledged in the ‘TIME100 HEALTH’ as one of the most impactful figures in the field, Dr. Baig receives well-deserved acclaim for his leadership and endeavors to combat polio within the country, elevating Pakistan’s stature on the global stage.
Before assuming his role in Pakistan’s anti-polio efforts, Dr Baig served as a technical advisor for Nigeria’s successful polio eradication initiative, contributing to the nation’s polio-free status in 2020. Under Dr. Baig’s stewardship, Time asserts, Pakistan is poised to achieve a similar milestone.
The profile of Dr. Shahzad Baig in Time magazine has been penned by Jeffrey Kluger, the magazine’s editor-at-large renowned for his coverage of space, science, and climate. Kluger commends Dr Baig’s impact, noting a significant reduction in polio cases since his appointment in 2021.
Despite challenges such as extremist attacks on polio workers and anti-vaccination propaganda, Dr Baig has remained steadfast in his efforts to eradicate polio in Pakistan.
“Under his leadership, the government has deployed 400,000 vaccinators and 80,000 security personnel to inoculate more than 90 million children this year alone, with another 24 million targeted in a springtime vaccination campaign,” added the Time editor-at-large.
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The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, commenting on Dr. Baig’s inclusion in the prestigious list, stated on its Instagram profile, “His inclusion in this esteemed list is a testament to his dedication to the mission of polio eradication from Pakistan!”
