Zubair Qureshi
Dr Nadeem Jan, Caretaker Federal Health Minister, visited the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) on Friday, the first day in office and affirmed that polio eradication would feature prominently among his priorities during his tenure. After formal introduction of the staff and the officials he said he would ensure that every conceivable measure to elevate Pakistan to the ranks of polio-free countries. “Treat me as a worker of the programme and I will do anything that needs to be done to interrupt transmission by the global deadline,” said Dr Nadeem Jan.
Federal Secretary of Health, Iftikhar Shallwani while receiving the caretaker health minister said, the health ministry has been actively involved in the Polio Programme for the past few months and “we will ensure that the focus on polio remains unwavering. We are very lucky to have a seasoned public health specialist as a leader with in-depth knowledge and experience of polio eradication efforts.” Dr Jan met the entire team at the NEOC, visited the Polio Control Room and discussed the current priorities for the Polio Programme. Dr Shahzad Baig, the Coordinator at the NEOC, said: “The presence of the Minister of Health at NEOC on his inaugural day holds immense significance for our programme. Your direct involvement and oversight underscores your commitment. We are very grateful for your visit and support.”
Dr Jan is a recipient of the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz and Sitara-i-Imtiaz and has worked with the UN, USAID, World Bank, EU, DFID and international non-government organisations for the past two decades. He has managed complex emergencies in challenging environments like Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Philippines, Kenya, Afghanistan, and the districts part of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Dr Jan also played a key role in the development and implementation of the Lady Health Workers Programme and worked closely with the Pakistan Polio Programme in the past.
