Senator Dr. Sania Nishtar, the former Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on poverty alleviation, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance—an international organization dedicated to improving vaccine accessibility for children in impoverished nations.
Dr. Sania Nishtar, a qualified medical doctor and current senator, is scheduled to assume the position on March 18, 2024.
With an exemplary career spanning over three decades in the health sector, Dr. Nishtar served in the national government from 2018 to 2022 in the capacity of the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on social protection and poverty alleviation, a role endowed with federal ministerial status.
Read more : Pharmaceutical Industry vows to enhance export by $1 billion in FY24: DRAP CEO
She chaired Gavi’s Evaluation Advisory Committee from 2011 to 2014 and served as an independent member of Gavi’s Board in 2016.
Professor José Manuel Barroso, Chair of the Gavi Board, expressed admiration for Dr. Nishtar’s leadership, her advocacy for health equity, innovative thinking, and problem-solving prowess in addressing complex challenges. He extended gratitude to David Marlow for his interim leadership, acknowledging his commitment to implementing crucial structural and cultural reforms within Gavi.
Upon her appointment, Dr. Sania Nishtar emphasized the significance of life-saving vaccines in healthcare and acknowledged Gavi’s substantial impact on global health over the past 23 years. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, conveyed warm congratulations to Dr. Nishtar, recognizing her exceptional contributions to Pakistan and her distinguished global public health leadership.
Former federal minister Dr. Miftah Ismail celebrated Dr. Nishtar’s achievement, expressing pride in her accomplishments and extending best wishes for her crucial work at Gavi. The appointment of Dr. Nishtar, with her extensive experience and leadership in healthcare, signals a positive development for Gavi as it continues its mission to provide essential vaccines to vulnerable populations around the world.
