The eradication of polio has been a significant accomplishment in the global vaccination efforts. This disease mainly affects children and can lead to paralysis or death. Currently, it is only found in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Dr. Shahzad Baig, the national coordinator of Pakistan’s polio-eradication program, has played a crucial role in the fight against this disease. Under his leadership, the number of cases has significantly decreased, with only six children affected in 2023 compared to 147 in 2019. The ultimate goal is to eliminate polio completely by 2026.
In 2011, before the death of Osama bin Laden, the CIA conducted a fake door-to-door vaccination campaign in Abbottabad, Pakistan, where bin Laden was hiding. This led to increased suspicion and rumors that polio vaccinations were a Western conspiracy to sterilize Muslim girls. As a result, more than 200 vaccine workers were killed by Islamist extremists between 2012 and 2016. Baig has stated that these days are over under his leadership. The Pakistani government has mobilized over 400,000 vaccinators and 80,000 security personnel to vaccinate over 95 million children in 2023 alone, with another 36 million slated for vaccination in the spring.
Before working on Pakistan’s polio-eradication program, Dr. Baig served as a technical advisor for Nigeria’s successful campaign which declared the country polio-free in October 2019. He hopes to replicate this success in Pakistan and see it become the next country to achieve polio eradication.
Overall, Dr. Baig’s dedication and hard work have contributed significantly to the fight against polio eradication efforts globally. With his leadership and determination towards eliminating this disease once and for all from Pakistan’s borders will pave way for other countries around the world as well