Taliban militants kill doctor working to eradicate polio

Taliban militants have shot dead a senior doctor working on north west Pakistan’s polio eradication campaign as part of their protest against vaccination.

Zakaullah Khan had led the Union Council Polio Eradication Committee in Peshawar for the last 10 years.

Pakistan’s health minister, Shahram Khan, told The BMJ that Khan had continued with his work despite threats from militants opposed to the vaccine.

“Militants have killed 78 polio workers, including three senior doctors, and have wounded 85 others to thwart vaccination,” he said. However, he added, “We are determined to reach 35 million children in every campaign and do away with this …