ISLAMABAD
\nThe head of Pakistan\u2019s polio eradication programme resigned from his post on Friday, citing \u201cpersonal reasons\u201d.
\nThe resignation of Dr Shahzad Asif Baig came at a time when the virus was seeing a resurgence, with three cases of the crippling disease already reported in 2024.
\nEven though the coordinator of the National Emer\u00adgency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication said he was resigning for personal reasons, official sources said the government had already decided to replace him.
\nIn his resignation, Dr Baig thanked frontline hea\u00ad\u00ad\u00adl\u00adth workers and his family.
\n\u201cI am proud that during my tenure, Pakistan achi\u00adeved the significant objective of stopping the transmission of the endogenous poliovirus. I have no doubt that under the leadership of the new Coordinator, Pakistan will achieve the next goal of interrupting all polioviruses.\u201d
\nThe performance of Dr Baig \u2014 who was included last month in Time magazine\u2019s \u2018100 Most Influe\u00adntial People in Health\u2019 list for his efforts to eradicate polio \u2014 has been under the scanner over the deteriorating virus situation.
\nIn the first five months of 2024, more environmental samples have tested positive for the virus than in the entire preceding year.
\nA recent stakeholder\u2019s meeting was also informed that the poliovirus situation in Pakistan is worse than in Afghanistan.
\nThe Technical Advisory Group (TAG) meeting, held in Doha from May 22 to May 25, was told that 44 districts were affected by the virus in Pakistan since the group\u2019s last meeting in June 2023.
\nLast month, Dr Baig was also admonished by the federal health ministry for his \u201cinappropriate behaviour\u201d during a meeting of the Executive Committee of National Economic Council, where he had questioned the forum\u2019s powers. \u201cThe inappropriate behaviour exhibited by you [the NEOC national coordinator] is both unacceptable and unprofessional,\u201d the ministry\u2019s letter added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD The head of Pakistan\u2019s polio eradication programme resigned from his post on Friday, citing \u201cpersonal reasons\u201d. The resignation of Dr Shahzad Asif Baig came at a time when the virus was seeing a resurgence, with three cases of the crippling disease already reported in 2024. Even though the coordinator of the National Emer\u00adgency Operations […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-410206","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n