`SUCH AN HONOUR'
Chief medical health officer Shahab saluted for his work during pandemic
Chief medical officer of health Dr. Saqib Shahab says he was “totally floored” when he learned he was going to be awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Regina for his work during the pandemic. On Friday, he received a big round of applause as chancellor Pam Klein and president Jeff Keshen presented him with the degree.
REGINA After receiving recognition for his work, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, provincial chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said the award shouldn't just be about him.
He told reporters on Friday his newly minted honorary doctor of science degree from the University of Regina represents recognition for public health.
“It's not just a person; it's the field. And that's how I would like to take it,” he said. “The credit has to be shared with people I've worked with and people I've worked for.”
Shahab, who is one of Canada's longest serving chief medical health officers, received enormous applause from new graduates, families and faculty at the ceremony inside a gymnasium at the University of Regina.
“I was totally floored,” he said. “When I heard of this I was speechless. It's such an honour because I have always looked up to people who have been recognized in this way.”
During his speech he congratulated students for their resilience in navigating through two difficult years.
He encouraged the students to bring equity into their future fields and listen to those who have perspectives different from theirs.
This is something Shahab has had to contend while at the helm of the government's COVID-19 response for more than two years.
Throughout that time, he's been lauded for his efforts to curb the spread but also criticized, either by those who feel he could have taken a tougher stance or others who wished mandates had been more lax.
In December 2020, Shahab was the subject of racist comments by those at a rally in front of the legislature.
But, he said, he has always listened to constructive criticism carefully.
“It's not just during the pandemic, but throughout, because we have to learn what resonates with communities and what doesn't,” he said. “I have taken the challenges in that sprit. There's a pandemic, but in health care and public health, there's all these different points of view. It is important for me to always listen to all sides.”
He said there were people who wanted measures in place and those who would have liked them relaxed, adding that some were experiencing pressures at work and at their businesses.
“One has to empathize with that and understand all that,” Shahab said. “Our job in public health and government is to enable people to make the best choice for themselves, their families and their communities.”
While Shahab quickly faded from public view once the government ended pandemic briefings in February, he said the work continued.
The government was criticized for ending those briefings, but Shahab said moving to weekly reports was a “natural ebbing off the intensity of the information.”
“If it needs to ramp up again, it will,” he said. “The work obviously continued seven days a week.”
Since then, he said things have settled down over the past four to six weeks.
“It's been a time of reflection, obviously,” Shahab said. “I think we are all celebrating, like today in person. And I think it feels great to be able to start doing things that we had put on hold for about two years.”
While he will still monitor the pandemic, he said the ministry can again refocus at looking at chronic diseases and promoting healthy lifestyles.
“That prevention starts before you were born,” he said. “And then there is that secondary prevention: good access to primary care and medications.”
He noted his award is a reminder the pandemic is still persisting.
The Ministry of Health reported there were 187 patients in hospital with COVID-19 as of noon Wednesday, the lowest total since mid-january. There were 232 patients at the same time a week prior.
Looking at these rates, Shahab said they represent a slow decline.
However, he continued to recommend people be up-to-date with their vaccines and aware of antiviral therapies if needed.
This includes looking for symptoms, self-testing, calling 811 and keeping a mask in situations where a person would like to wear it.
“All those things remain important and will remain important,” he said.
It's such an honour because I have always looked up to people who have been recognized in this way.