Transitions: Pakistan's leading epidemiologist Dr Abdur Rab passes away in Canada

Dr Abdur Rab helped turn the Health Services Academy into Pakistan’s premier public health institute

Dr Mohammad Abdur Rab, one of Pakistan’s leading medical scientists, passed away in Ontario, Canada, after battling cancer for over two years.

One of Pakistan’s leading epidemiologist, Dr Abdur Rab had been serving as a senior scientific officer responsible for the World Health Organisation’s Tropical Disease Programme in Pakistan. He later established the National Guinea Worm Eradication Programme.

With assistance from the German government, Dr Rab had helped turn the Health Services Academy into Pakistan’s premier public health institute.

Dr Rab then moved to the World Health Organization (WHO), first stationed at the WHO’s Regional Headquarters in Cairo, and then becoming the WHO Representative in Sudan.

He mentored many physicians and scientists, the world over.

He is survived by his wife, Dr Shahida Abdur Rab, a former leading gynecologist from Islamabad, daughter Faiza, and sons Samad and Fahad, all of whom were by his bedside during his last moments.