in Pakistan Anti-polio programme Nationwide Coordinator Dr Shehzad Baig was lately named in Time journal’s listing of 100 Most Influential Folks, calling him ‘a testomony to the exhausting work of frontline polio well being staff’.
Impartial Urdu held a particular assembly with him on this regard, throughout which an in depth dialogue was held on the polio program.
Dr Shahzad Baig mentioned that his identify on this listing is a supply of happiness for him, his household and the nation as he’s the one Pakistani to be included on this listing.
In accordance with Dr. Shehzad, he didn’t even dream that he would get this honor, however when he obtained an e-mail from the establishment, he felt it was a joke, which he didn’t take significantly. Nevertheless, when it was introduced, he was certain that his identify was included within the Time 100 listing.
How did you get into the well being discipline? To this query, Dr. Shahzad mentioned that when he got here to review public well being from the College of New South Wales in Australia, he joined the WHO polio program in Pakistan after which went to Nigeria. After engaged on polio for 13 years in Nigeria, when it was declared polio-free, he considered coming to Pakistan as a result of the 2 nations have been going through comparable challenges.
On his return to Pakistan, Dr. Shehzad joined the polio program in 2021 as head. For the previous 21 years Polio are engaged on
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In accordance with Dr. Shahzad, the largest problem for him is to eradicate polio from Pakistan. ‘If polio may be eradicated from Nigeria, it’s potential in Pakistan too.’
Are the measures being taken to eradicate polio ample?’ To this query, he replied that he wouldn’t use the phrase ‘sufficient’ however these steps are in the fitting path. If the polio program is 98 and even 99 p.c profitable, the phrase ‘failure’ is related to it. It is usually necessary to notice that getting the final one p.c is just not straightforward.
Additionally, he mentioned that if his identify is included within the Time 100 listing, it implies that this system is profitable.
When requested in regards to the purpose for not eradicating polio from the nation, Dr. Shahzad mentioned that two targets have been set this yr. The primary was the elimination of endemic virus and no endemic virus was detected in circumstances or environmental samples since November 15, 2023. The second objective is to not have viruses from overseas within the nation. Aside from Pakistan, Afghanistan is the one nation the place Polio virus There may be and so is our neighboring nation. His presence was final recognized in December final yr.
Dr Shahzad mentioned: ‘Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta are the three cities from which the presence of poliovirus in environmental samples couldn’t be eradicated. Our goal is to complete it by the top of December, we’ll end it. From the yr 2025, Zero Polio will begin the journey to Pakistan in order that we may be declared polio free in December.
He emphasised that extra consideration must be paid to the districts positioned alongside the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Everybody there ought to be vaccinated. All individuals have to be vaccinated to enter Pakistan at 12 entry factors, together with Chaman and Torkham.
He mentioned that folks going to Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar from these 12 areas ought to deal with their journey routes in order that they are often vaccinated. These are the people who find themselves bringing the virus.
Dr. Shahzad Baig mentioned that among the many environmental samples from throughout the nation, the best variety of polio virus samples are coming from Karachi. After Karachi, Peshawar whereas Quetta block (Chaman, Pashin, Qila Abdullah) is on the third place.
He mentioned that at one time it was believed that if the polio virus could be eradicated from Pakistan, it might even be eradicated from Afghanistan, however this isn’t true.
In accordance with Dr. Shahzad Baig: “There will likely be a ‘well being dialogue’ between Pakistan and Afghanistan during which Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates can even play a job in order that each nations sit collectively on the well being agenda.”
“The method of well being dialogue has began on behalf of Pakistan and it’s anticipated to carry a well being dialogue in September this yr.”
On the query of the polio program being affected after the current tensions in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Dr. Shehzad Baig mentioned that this case has not affected the polio program as a result of the cooperation on it’s the similar as earlier than.
When requested about assaults on polio well being staff, he mentioned, “That is the job of the legislation enforcement businesses, however their company gives monetary help to staff who’re injured or killed.”
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2024-06-24 07:01:55