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| Giving participants a new vision, a new way to look at life, a way of changing current situation and designing an altogether new destination! - Eighth Pakistan Leadership in Strategic Health Communication Workshop, 2010. |
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“I wont be exaggerating when I say that this last week gave me a whole new perspective towards life...little things that are somehow deep within you were brought out by Ben with such alacrity and the whole experience was least to say ‘extra ordinary’!” Dr. Saira, a participant |
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Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Communication has been arranging the Leadership in Strategic Health Communication Workshop in Pakistan since year 2001. The training workshop is held almost every year in Islamabad and facilitated by |
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Dr. Benjamin V. Lozare, Director of Training & Capacity Building and Associate Director at CCP, Baltimore office. |
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The Leadership in Strategic Health Communication is a short-course offered by CCP every year in the United States and considered as one of the best training opportunities in health communication all around the world. The course in Pakistan uses the same curricula & methodology and also features Pakistan SCOPE (Strategic Communication Planning and Evaluation), an exciting easy-to-learn computer software for designing communication strategies. |
This year’s leadership workshop, which was Eighth in series, took place at a local hotel in Islamabad from May 10-15, 2010. It had 29 health communication professionals representing different government and private sector organizations working in different areas of Pakistan. The participants were selected after rigorous exercise of sending invitations and selecting from around 50 nominees.
Each day, a new concept/area of strategic health communication was briefed to participants with relevant activities. The key areas that workshop focused on were Strategic Health Communication Overview, its analysis and problems, root cause, program, and audience analysis, identifying key constraints, media planning, developing communication objectives and a strategic approach for mobilizing communities.
Areas introduced to participants were enhanced by practical team exercises/activities. Certain key concepts were delivered to the participants through enter-education, which helped in understanding real life implication of the concepts. Different teams identified different health issues and presented their shared vision, objectives and strategic approach to solutions very creatively. Presentations were followed by a discussion and a question answer session. An evaluation session was also held at the end of the course.
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The workshop course and its activities continued till May 15, 2010 and despite the short duration of the course; the impact it made on participants will last much longer.
The certificate distribution ceremony was held on May 13, 2010 to give away certificates to the participants of workshop. Efforts of PAIMAN and JHUCCP were also recognized. A special acknowledgement was made to Dr. Ben Lozare who traveled from the United States to facilitate the workshop and make it a life changing experience for participants. |
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| Tajdeed-e-Paiman - A promise renewed |
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Research shows that music videos have become a force that instigates strong emotions in audience and effects social roles and behavior. There are countless jingles and promotional songs related to social issues which have been playing a very important role in realizing the need of action. In Pakistan, in a short span of time there are already more than five dedicated music channels by all major networks. This is just one of the testaments that depict the popularity of the medium of music. Leveraging the ever growing trend of communicating the messages through the medium of music, PAIMAN has once again launched its second music video ‘Zindagi’ based on the theme of child care as a shared responsibility of both the husband and wife. Zindagi takes stock from the successful launch and airing of the first music video ‘Paiman’.
The launching event “Tajdeed-e-Paiman” and as termed by a leading Pakistani English newspaper – ‘soft sell of a vital message’ was held on March 25, 2010 at Serena Hotel in Islamabad to show the music video for the very first time. The event was attended by Gerald Feierstein, US Deputy Chief of Mission, Dr. Rasheed Jooma, Director General Health and Shokat Hayat Durrani, Secretary Ministry of Population Welfare, Pakistan and among others were prominent government, development, media and health representatives. Sajjad Ali, the vocalist of song Zindagi, was personally there at the occasion to entertain the audience with his ever famous classics and unmatched vocals.
The launching ceremony also featured a tribute to mothers presented by famous classical dancer, Nighat Chaudary, the dissemination of Mass Media Products, Sharing of Publications and Exhibition of Calendars produced from 2005-2010.
The event was also marked to present PAIMAN shields to Mr. Robert Wilson, Dr. Farooq Akhtar, and Dr. Iqbal Ahmed Lehri for their dedication to bring a positive change in the lives of Pakistani mothers and children. |
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| Kundi Speaks for the health and rights of mothers |
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Acknowledging the dire need for improving the health status of mothers and children in Pakistan, Mr. Fasiasal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker National Assembly pledged fully support to women’s health initiative both in public and private sector at a function organized by White Ribbon Alliance Pakistan (WRA-P) at Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU).
The function tilted Every Mother Counts was part of the International Women Day celebrations being jointed observed by WRA-P and FJWU.
Speaking candidly to a full house of audience Mr. Kundi regretted the fact that despite living in 21 st century, Pakistan still had to mourn the deaths of mothers and children who could be saved with little attention and some investment in their health and wellbeing.”
He termed the annual loss of over 20 thousand mothers due to pregnancy related causes as totally unacceptable and observed that no nation could let a mother die just because she tries to bring another life in this world. He lauded the partnership between WRA-P and FJWU urging other stakeholders to join hands for a cause that needed concerted efforts. “I really appreciated the leadership of FJWU for thinking out of the box and making a partnership with a civil society organization dedicated to the cause of saving mothers in Pakistan.
Earlier, Dr. Nabeela Ali, a leading Public Health Expert and Member Executive Council, WRA-P made a thought provoking presentation on the causes of maternal deaths in Pakistan. Speaking in layman terms she highlighted step by step the factors that contribute to a 276/10000 maternal mortality ratio of Pakistan which was amongst the highest in the world. Dr. Amanullah Khan, Secretary General, WRA-P in his remarks focused on the high newborn mortality in Pakistan and termed it mostly a case of lack of knowledge and apathy rather than something that was due to lack of infrastructure or finances. “ For saving newborn lives, one does not need rocket science but basic knowledge and support at household and community level. It is a shame that we are unable to provide even that and let hundreds of thousands of newborns die every year”, lamented Dr. Khan.
Professor Dr. Syeda Asadullah Khan, Vice Chancellor, FJWU in her address emphasized the need for improving conditions for women and assured full support of her university in spreading the messages about the mothers and newborns health. The function was also address by Director National MNCH Program, Dr. Farooq Akhatar.
Every Mother Counts, also featured a painting competition on maternal health as well in which students from various universities and colleges participated. The winning Painting received a cash prize of Rs. 20,000 while the runner up got Rs. 10,000 from WRA. Famous TV star and a well know artist, Mr. Jamal Shah who served on the judges panel announced the results and distributed the prized prizes. |
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The ‘Johns Hopkins – Centre for Communication Programs’ (CCP), envisions a world in which communication saves lives, improves health and enhances the well-being of people. JHU-CCP partners with international organizations to develop strategies and e nhance access to health information and conduct research to guide program design and evaluation. Along with other partners, JHU-CCP has been working with White Ribbon Alliance-Pakistan (WRA-P) for the last 3 years on Health activities. WRA-P was established in December 2006 under the 1860 Societies Act. It is an independent non-profit and non-political organization that works to save the lives of mothers and their newborns all around the world.
As a part of its assistance to WRA-P, JHU-CCP supported the selection of the Pakistan Country Team to participate in the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Asia and Near East (ANE) funded a technical meeting on Mother and Child Health and Family Planning (MNCH/FP) Best Practices in Bangkok, Thailand in September 2007. Out of 400 participants, the 32 members of the Pakistan Team actively participated in the meeting. The Pakistan Team, comprising of representatives from Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Population Welfare (MoPW), USAID, UNFPA, WHO, and WRA-P, selected the most appropriate Best Practices for Pakistan.
During the next couple of years, JHU-CCP helped to host and arrange meetings back home to further develop and work on the Best Practices. Furthermore, an expert committee represented by government officials, donor agencies, development sector partners and subject specialist shortlisted ten low cost key interventions that can substantially improve the health of mothers and children in Pakistan. JHU-CCP helped develop this advocacy kit for ten Best Practices along with the partners during this time.
A National two day Seminar on ‘Best Practices’ was held in Karachi on the 1 st and 2 nd of October, 2009. The event was sponsored by Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN), a USAID funded project, and organized by White Ribbon Alliance, Pakistan (WRA-P). It was a historic seminar where the, “Karachi Declaration on Scaling up MNCH-FP Best Practices in Pakistan” was signed. Around 70 participants including the representatives from Provincial Health and Population Welfare Ministries, Government of AJ&K, FATA, Government of Gilgit and Baltistan, donor agencies and development partners attended the ceremony.
JHU-CCP thoroughly supported the meeting as a partner. It developed, designed and printed resource materials like leaflets, brochures, banners, backdrops and provided further media support in terms of press releases. Maternal issues such as Active Management of Third Stage Labour, Post Abortion Care (PAC), Expanding Contraceptive Choice, introducing Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancy (HTSP) were discussed. And Newborn issues such as Newborn Resuscitation, Essential Newborn Care, and the Introduction of Low Osmolarity ORS & Zinc were thoroughly addressed by the representatives and stakeholders as being the best practice highlights of the issue at hand.
Dr. Nabeela Ali, Chief of Party PAIMAN, presented the current maternal and reproductive health situation in the country. She acknowledged how even with many hurdles, the situation of maternal and newborn health has steadily increased in the country over time. Prof Dr Zulfiqar Ali Bhutta (Chairman Paediatrics Department, Aga Khan University, Karachi) pointed out that the child health is not very encouraging with a very high child mortality rate under the age of five, as the country witnesses 300,000 deaths per year. International health experts on maternal and child health shared with examples that there is room for improvement in the developing countries, some of which have shown a remarkable progress.
The seminar also included the signing ceremony of the Karachi Declaration. It is a historic pledge of ministries and Departments of Health and Population Welfare to work in unison to scale-up selected high impact Best Practices in MNCH-FP and develop an action plan for their execution at Federal, Provincial and District levels. The secretaries in their remarks congratulated the Best Practices Pakistan Country Team on this achievement and expressed hope and support for the implementation of the declaration. The key note addresses were followed by question answer sessions where by the participants sought information, made comments and suggestions about the relevance of the global evidence with the local context. Many constructive ideas and comments were shared in regard to improving the maternal and newborn situation.
The policy seminar was successful in achieving its intended objectives for scaling up of Best Practices in Pakistan. The seminar organizers did very well in registering participation of policy community at large. And importantly, the participants actively participated in the discussions and questions answer sessions and group work. Through this seminar the Country Team was able to obtain a formal commitment of the MoH and MoPW for scaling up of the Best Practices in Pakistan. The signing of the Karachi Declaration was no less a great achievement. Through workshops and group work the participants provided the Country Team and policy makers with action steps which could be taken to scale up the Best Practices in Pakistan. Therefore, the seminar was instrumental in sensitizing the policy community on Best Practices and mustering their support and endorsement for scaling up which is expected to go a long way in the efforts focusing the cause of scaling up of Best Practices in Pakistan. |
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Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN), along with National Research and Development Foundation (NRDF), are collaborating to organize a one-day ‘Ulama Congregation’ on January 3, 2010. The congregation is titled ‘The Role of Ulama in promoting Mother and Newborn Child Health (MNCH) in Pakistan’. It aims to sensitize the Ulama to play the most efficient role in promoting MNCH because of their huge influence in the Islamic society.
‘Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns’ (PAIMAN) is a six year ‘United States Agency for International Development’ (USAID) funded project designed to reduce country’s maternal and neonatal mortality. ‘National Research and Development Foundation’ (NRDF) is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that operates in NWFP for women’s rights.
The congregation will be jointly presided by Maulana Abdul Majid and Dr. Sher Ali, two of the most influential religious scholars in Pakistan. Apart from prominent scholars, 250 Ulama from six districts of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) will be assembling at the event. Mr. Qazi Wasee ur Rehman along with Maulana Sharif Hazarvi and Maulana Muhammad Iqbal Naeemi will facilitate the congregation. Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani, Maulana Abdul Majeed Nadeem, Maulana Zahid ul Rashdi, Maulana Hanif Jalandri, Pir of Taunsa Khawaja Nasar ul Mahmood, Pir Mazhar Saeed Kazmi and Mufti Hadayat Ullah Pasrori will be the among the key speakers.
This congregation aims to give further boost to efforts of the Ulama in raising awareness on MNCH in their respective hometowns. It also aims to enhance their commitment and praise their ongoing efforts for their dedication to MNCH issues. |
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| Friday, August 28, 2009 |
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| Call to finalize rules, regulations on breastfeeding |
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| SC orders crackdown on fake drugs dealers |
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| Thursday, August 26, 2009 |
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| About 1,200 coastal villages lack basic health facilities |
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A big majority of the city’s coastal area population is suffering from multiple diseases, mainly respiratory and skin problems, owing to unhygienic conditions that prevail along the coastal belt and a lack of basic medical facilities. A recent survey of these areas shows that the affected people, mostly fishermen, who complained of respiratory and skin problems as common diseases, are the residents of those villages where basic healthcare facilities are not available. The survey also shows that the maternal mortality and morbidity rate is also high among fishermen family and deaths from preventable diseases are common.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/local/karachi-about-1%2C200-coastal-villages-lack-basic-health-facilities-789 |
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| Number of patients with stomach, throat ailments on rise |
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The number of people particularly children visiting the government hospitals and private clinics with stomach and throat problems after using unhygienic oily and spicy food items during ‘iftar’ is on the rise. General physician Dr Khaliq Naveed Chugtai said that people use too much oily and spicy food in ‘iftar’, which causes several problems. He said people should avoid using too much spices in their food items during ‘Iftar’. He said that unhygienic food is a source of dangerous diseases including cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea, swelling in the stomach, intestines and liver, etc. He added that since Ramazan began, a number of cases of inflammation of the stomach lining are reported.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=195233 |
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| Tuesday, August 25, 2009 |
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| Expert supports rejection of ‘Cholesterol theory’ of heart disease |
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Health experts believe that though the country became obsessed with low fat and low-cholesterol, heart diseases continue to be on the rise and the number of patients is increasing continuously. Many experts support a newer hypothesis that there is no link between amounts of cholesterol consumed through foods and the amount of cholesterol in blood. Actually, recently a famous American Cardiac Surgeon Dr. Dwight Lundell has rejected the ‘Cholesterol theory’ of heart disease, and said, it is the inflammation and not high fat and high cholesterol, which is the real culprit in causing heart disease.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=194797 |
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| Homeopathy has no cure for HIV, TB, malaria |
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People with conditions such as HIV, TB and malaria should not rely on homeopathic treatments, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned. It was responding to calls from young researchers who fear the promotion of homeopathy in the developing world could put people’s lives at risk. The group Voice of Young Science Network has written to health ministers to set out the WHO view. However, practitioners said there were areas where homeopathy could help. In a letter to the WHO in June, the medics from the UK and Africa said: “We are calling on the WHO to condemn the promotion of homeopathy for treating TB, infant diarrhoea, influenza, malaria and HIV.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=194814 |
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| Leaflets to create awareness about dengue |
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Director General Health, Dr Muhammad Aslam Chaudhry has said that handbills mentioning preventive measures to dengue fever would be distributed door to door during the second round of anti-polio campaign from September 7 to 9th. While chairing a meeting to review the arrangements for controlling the dengue fever in coming months, he also directed for anti-mosquito spray at the Lahore and Rawalpindi railway stations, trains and railway and PIA cargo godowns.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=194830 |
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| Monday, August 24, 2009 |
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| Two dengue fever suspects die |
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All the 15 child suspects of dengue fever, who were taken to Holy Family Hospital Saturday evening after the death of two other kids of the same locality, were out of danger on Sunday. District Health Department Rawalpindi, has shifted the 15 children from rural areas after suspecting them as dengue fever cases. The deaths of two children one during Friday night and the other early Saturday morning were reported to Executive District Officer (Health) who constituted a team under supervision of the DHO to visit and investigate causes of deaths.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=194669 |
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| One dies of AIDS; workshop held in Landikotal |
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A person died of HIV/AIDS and several others got infected with the virus in Khyber Agency in the last few months. A resident of the area died of HIV/AIDS last month while several others were also infected. The Human Development Work Organization (HDWO) arranged a workshop on HIV-AIDS here on Sunday. A large number of civil society representatives and journalists participated in the session. Master-trainer Mudassir Shah Afridi, in his speech, cited medical reports saying that Pakistani people who visited gulf countries were mostly infected with HIV. Sexual contact was not the only cause of HIV transmission from one person to another but barbershops and old/used syringes were also the tools infecting people, Mudassir added.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=194647 |
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| Sunday, August 23, 2009 |
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| Ways discussed to control dengue |
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Dengue, a mosquito which breeds in fresh water and lives in houses, can only be eliminated by community participation and the government has taken all necessary measure for prevention, control and treatment of the fever. This was stated by medical experts and consultants while addressing a consultative workshop on prevention and control of dengue. The workshop was arranged by the Punjab Health Department with the collaboration of World Health Organization (WHO) at Management and Professional Development Department (MPDD.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=5 |
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| Friday, July 24, 2009 |
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| MKRF helps immunize 7,016 left out kids |
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Never before, in the history of polio eradication efforts in Pakistan, have the Executive District Officers (EDOs) of Health - officials whose performance directly impacts the eventual outcome of a national immunization campaign in terms of the number of children missed and reached with polio vaccine - been pushed, pursued and pressurized to get missed children immunized against the disease, as they have been with the establishment of the Polio Control Cell. A practical demonstration of how the outreach of the electronic media can be maximized to keep the EDOs on their toes so that no child remains deprived of the opportunity of protection from a disease that causes lifelong disability, was witnessed here Thursday at the Polio Control Cell established with the involvement of the Mir Khalil-ur-Rehman Foundation (MKRF) and the ever-expanding polio control fraternity led by the Ministry of Health and UNICEF.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=189715 |
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| Seasonal waterborne diseases on the rise |
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The number of reported cases of seasonal waterborne diseases especially of gastroenteritis has soared manifolds in twin cities with the arrival of monsoon rain spell. Likewise, every summer season the number of patients suffering from water-borne diseases has swelled and the situation is evident from the significant influx of patients going to the Outdoor Patients Departments of Gastro in public sector hospitals. Hospitals in twin cities were receiving Gastroenteritis patients, but the heavy rain spell has contributed a lot in activating the viruses that causes waterborne diseases.
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Regional/Islamabad/24-Jul-2009/Seasonal-waterborne-diseases-on-the-rise |
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| Thursday, July 23, 2009 |
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| Difference between heart attack and heart failure |
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There is a need to understand the difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack. It is important to understand a few facts about the heart. Its job is to be a pump, pushing blood around the body. It does this by ‘beating’ — squeezing the blood out and pushing it on its way. The heart is made up of a unique type of muscle and has its own blood supply, providing the energy to beat constantly. Heart attack, most commonly, a blood clot from a furred-up artery becomes stuck in one of the heart’s blood vessels and blocks it. Heart failure is quite a misleading term and would probably be better called ‘heart inefficiency’. If you have heart failure, the pump is less efficient and cannot cope with squeezing the same amount each time. It does not mean.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=189548 |
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| CS seeks report about the implementation of health projects |
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Chief Secretary Sindh, Fazal-ur-Rehman on Wednesday asked the Secretary Health to prepare a report about issues being faced in implementation of PPHI (Peoples Primarily Health Care Initiatives) and NMNCH (National Maternal Neonatal & Child Health Programme) and submit his recommendations to address the problem. He was presiding a review meeting of both projects. The Chief Secretary maintained that people must receive full health facilities and vaccination of polio, snake and dog biting etc, should be available in all health outlets.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=189512 |
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| 15m suffering from hepatitis, says expert |
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A renowned specialist of hapaetology, Dr Amir Ghafoor, on Wednesday claimed that about 15 million people in the country and three to four million in NWFP had been suffering from hepatitis B and C. Addressing a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club, he said: “It is the leading cause of liver cancer and 80 per cent of liver cancer is due to the hepatitis A, B and C. These viruses cause epidemics usually through infected water.”
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=189537 |
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| 'LHVs' role vital to promote breast-feeding' |
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A weeklong drive of mass awareness and advocacy will be lunched by the National Alliance for Promotion of Breast-feeding from August 1st throughout the country. Global Breast-feeding Week is celebrated every year from August 1 to 7 in more than 120 countries to encourage breast-feeding and improve the health of babies around the world. During the WBW 2009 rural areas would be targeted through the Lady Health Workers for promotion of breast-feeding in communities. Other key stakeholders such as parliamentarians, media and health service providers will be mobilized to take special initiatives to raise awareness during this BF week.
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Regional/Islamabad/23-Jul-2009/LHVs-role-vital-to-promote-breastfeeding |
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| Lives in danger |
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Fake and under-qualified medical practitioners are an inevitable menace in a country where the needs of a largely uneducated population are being addressed by an overstretched and inefficient public healthcare system. These quacks take advantage of the citizenry’s lack of awareness and exploit the need for medical aid. It is estimated that the number of fake medics across the country runs into hundreds of thousands. The ‘medicine’ they practice includes specialized fields such as dentistry, bone-setting and antenatal care. The state’s poor record in prosecuting such offenders means that the quacks routinely fleece citizens as well as endanger the lives of unsuspecting patients through medical malpractice.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/editorial/lives-in-danger-379 |
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| Wednesday, July 22, 2009 |
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| Notification of breastfeeding law sought |
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The National Alliance for Protection and Promotion of Breastfeeding on Tuesday urged expediting the process of notification of rules and regulations of the Breastfeeding Ordinance 2002. Finalizing its strategies for the upcoming breastfeeding week the meeting was informed that initiation of breastfeeding was 92 per cent but percentage of exclusive breastfeeding at four to six months is about 30 per cent which needs to be raised as the infants less than two months are six times more prone to infectious diseases if he was not exclusively breastfed.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/national/notification-of-breastfeeding-law-sought-279 |
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| Tuesday, July 21, 2009 |
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| Public awareness must for healthy society |
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The public awareness about the health issue is must for the healthy society and the country development. This was stated by the Chief Executive of National Trust of Population Welfare (NATWOP) Iftikhar Durrani, while addressing District Managers of Health and Population from across the country in a workshop on “Awareness for Better Health”. The workshop was organized by NATWOP here on Monday. Iftikhar Durrani said that the main objective of this workshop was to disseminate the information about larger public health issues related to Mother and Child Healthcare (MCH) to communities, through the concerned District Managers for Health and Population and mobilize them to utilize available services.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=189104 |
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| Over 33m children to get polio drops |
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| Doctors resent computerized X-ray |
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The Young Doctors Association has pointed out that computerized X-ray prints were being delivered on ‘papers’ instead of proper X-ray films in Services Hospital, which they termed an institution specific phenomenon. In a press statement here on Monday, YDA General Secretary Dr Salman Kazmi said that the idea of computerized prints of X-rays could not be successful until it was started in all hospitals simultaneously. “The idea of computerized X-ray prints has become institution specific,” he said, while adding that the patients were used to fold their X-ray prints, which became useless outside the hospital.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=189184 |
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| Gastroenteritis hits Qilla Abdullah |
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The district administration of Qilla Abdullah has ordered closure of educational institutions for three days because of an outbreak of gastroenteritis. According to provincial Minister for Revenue Zamarak Khan Achakzai, more than 600 people, mostly women and children, have been affected and one woman has died. The provincial health department has sent three teams of doctors and paramedics to the Jangal Pir Alizai area of the district. A large number of patients have been brought to Quetta and admitted to the civil hospital and Bolan medical complex.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/national/gastroenteritis-hits-qilla-abdullah-villages-179 |
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| http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/jul2009-daily/21-07-2009/america.htm |
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| Monday, July 20, 2009 |
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| NIH confirms cholera case in capital |
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National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, has confirmed existence of the bacterium Vibrio Cholerae that cause cholera in federal capital and in camps setup for internally displaced persons (IDPs) at Mardan, Nowshera and Charsadda. NIH informed that the institute tested a patient positive for cholera recently. They said the patient belonged to Islamabad and underwent treatment at Federal Government Services Hospital (FGSH) in Islamabad. “A few cases of cholera in the camps of IDPs in Mardan, Nowshera and Charsadda have also been tested positive,” the sources added.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=188937 |
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| Anti-polio drive |
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All is set to launch a vigorous and full scale anti-polio drive in the rural areas of Islamabad from today (Monday). As many as 88,955 children up to 5 years of age will be administered anti-polio drops in the rural areas of Islamabad during the 3-day anti-polio drive. District Health Officer (Islamabad) Dr. Amirzada Khan has said that this time, the rural areas of Islamabad has been divided into 8 zones with an addition of one zone more and 230 immunization teams have been constituted for door-to-door coverage in the remote rural areas. 31 static centers and 11 transit points have also been set up in the rural areas for the purpose of anti-polio drive.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=188938
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\07\20\story_20-7-2009_pg7_13 |
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| Healthcare for all |
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If the existing hospital facilities were expanded to provide such care, it would not only cut down tremendously on the cost of such facilities but also create a better academic environment where future doctors and specialists could be trained properly. Recently the chief minister of Punjab suggested some form of healthcare insurance for ‘all’ the people of the province. This is a welcome idea but its implementation is going to be extremely difficult. What is really needed is universal access to healthcare.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\07\20\story_20-7-2009_pg3_2 |
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| Sunday, July 19, 2009 |
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| Cholera may hit Rawalpindi |
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The existing rapid spread of gastrointestinal diseases in town convinced many health experts to start fearing that an outbreak of deadly cholera might hit Rawalpindi, if proper preventive measures are not taken well in time. A medical expert said that that treatment of heavy watery diarrhoea and cholera follows alike protocol, but mortality rate of cholera sometimes exceeds 40 per cent. He said that in the existing healthcare system of Pakistan, as the system of state on provision of healthcare has collapsed.” While many health experts at allied hospitals do believe that most of the patients with diarrhoea are treated as gastro patients and the bacterial or viral source of infection in them remains hidden.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=6 |
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| Saturday, July 18, 2009 |
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| Awareness on mother, child health urged |
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A majority of deaths of mothers can be prevented in the country by providing appropriate services and improving knowledge at the household levels. Member of Executive Council of White Ribbon Alliance Dr. Nabeela Ali said this at a media briefing on the State of Mother and Child in Pakistan here. She said that around 20,000 women die every year due to pregnancy related cause, adding, a large number of deliveries are being conducted by unqualified personnel. She said that provision of health services should be considered a joint responsibility instead of always blaming the government in failing its duty to provide healthcare to everyone.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=6 |
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| Awareness on mother, child health urged |
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The inhabitants of the entire coastal belt of the City are suffering from multiple diseases due to unhygienic conditions and the lack of basic medical facilities. According to a survey, there are as many as 1,200 villages along coastal belt starting from Mubarak Village in Kemari Town to Lath Basti in Bin Qasim Town. Each village has a population around 2,000 to 5,000 people, who mostly live in small huts. But the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) is yet to provide electricity and basic health and education facilities to these villages. A good number of pregnant women die before reaching hospitals located in remote urban areas of the metropolis.
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Regional/Karachi/18-Jul-2009/No-health-facility-in-coastal-villages |
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| Healthcare delivery system |
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| Wednesday, August 27, 2009 |
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| Hospital hit by shortage of doctors, medicines |
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Patients are suffering because of the shortage of medicines and doctors as the latter prefer to remain on call or run private clinics instead of attending their official duties at the Civil Hospital Dadu. The poor patients are forced to buy medicines from their pockets. Reportedly, the 190 beds hospital is without a Children Ward as the previous one was merged with the ENT Ward. Now, around three to four children are cramped on one bed and the Neo-natal Care Unit is running without trained staff thus putting at danger the lives of the newly born babies.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/national/hospital-hit-by-shortage-of-doctors%2C-medicines-789 |
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| Medical Colleges attached to THQ, DHQ hospitals |
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The provincial Health Department has issued a notification by which medical colleges and teaching hospitals in Punjab have been attached with DHQ and THQ hospitals to improve healthcare delivery system. By this consultancy services of specialist doctors would also be available to the people of far-flung areas.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=195199 |
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| Monday, August 24, 2009 |
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| Hospitals in Pindi more a commercial venture |
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Hospitals are places where people come to recover from serious illnesses. The patients’ physical and visual environment has a direct relationship with the architecture of the building. So, the environment of hospitals should be of high quality to accelerate the recovery rate of patients. But most of the civil hospitals in Rawalpindi lack adequate open spaces and looks like more a commercial venture than of welfare. As a result buildings are located as close as possible to property lines, resulting in lack of proper ambulance and vehicle maneuvering area within the site. http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=194667 |
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| Wednesday, July 22, 2009 |
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| Health dept seeks powers to discipline private hospitals |
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The Sindh health department, which has no legal powers to take direct action to correct wrong doings of various private sector hospitals, has once again begun work on a draft bill envisaging registration and regulation of private health concerns across the province. The health department high-ups had realized the need for some legal tools for taking action against the doctors or private medical establishments for negligence resulting in a patient’s death, unjustifiably high cost of treatment, excessive hospital charges or unnecessary removal of a patient’s organ, or other complaints made by patients or staff of private hospitals and clinics.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/local/karachi-health-dept-seeks-powers-to-discipline-private-hospitals-279 |
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| Monday, July 20, 2009 |
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| Kidney centre planned for Nawabshah |
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The Sindh Health Department has approved the Kidney Treatment and Transplant Centre at Nawabshah at the cost of PKR 500 million. The Sindh government has named the institute as the Benazir Institute of Urology and Transplantation (BIUT). Medical Superintendent People’s Medical College Hospital Dr Naseer Sheikh said land for the institute was being acquired.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=188967 |
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| Modern healthcare top priority: Shahbaz |
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| Saturday, July 18, 2009 |
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| Programme for TB cure launched |
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Punjab Health Department has launched treatment programme for tuberculosis for childhood at the tertiary level. Allama Iqbal Medical College/Jinnah Hospital Principal Prof Javed Akram launched the programme by administering medicine to a child. Speaking on the occasion, Provincial Coordinator for National TB Programme Dr Darakhshaan Baddar said the program had been launched on the patron of TB DOTs Program and the Global Fund for TB and the Association of Social Development would provide financial assistance for the program.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=5 |
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| Professional issues – hazards and negligence |
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| Tuesday, August 25, 2009 |
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| Over 300 CHK house job doctors boycott work |
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| Sunday, August 23, 2009 |
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| PIMS doctors end strike |
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Postgraduate trainee doctors (PGs) and house officers (HOs) of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) resumed their strike on Saturday to pressurize the government to fulfil all their demands associated with payment of the monthly stipend. Later in the day, however, the protest was called off after the administration succeeded in buying time till the end of Ramazan. Both the executive director of PIMS Professor Dr Mehmood Jamal and the Dean of the Quaid-i-Azam Postgraduate Medical College (QPGMC) Dr Ghazala Mehmood assured the trainee doctors that they would put up a case with the relevant ministries by the end of Ramazan so that issues pertaining to payment of arrears and yearly increment, as well as of raising the stipend of minor diploma holders to make it compatible with the amount being paid to major diploma holders, are also sorted out.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=6
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Regional/Islamabad/23-Aug-2009/PIMS-trainee-doctors-call-off-strike |
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| Friday, July 24, 2009 |
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| Senior doctors in Punjab regularized |
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Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday has ordered regularization of senior doctors working on contract basis. He issued these orders while giving an approval to the recommendations of the committee headed by chief secretary. Similarly, doctors have been regularized on 50% vacancies of direct recruitment of assistant professors working on contract basis whereas on the remaining seats of promotion quota, such senior registrars will be promoted to assistant professors who will be eligible for this post.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/news.asp?cat_id=2
http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/jul2009-daily/24-07-2009/cities/islamabad/index.html |
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| Thursday, July 23, 2009 |
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| Doctors’ province-wide strike |
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| Tuesday, July 21, 2009 |
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| Doctors strike on 23rd against govt’s ‘betrayal’ |
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The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has announced it would observe strike in all hospitals all over Punjab on July 23 against provincial government’s failure to fulfill its promise to notify regularization of postgraduate doctors. “Except emergency wards and ICUs, a complete strike will be observed in all OPD and indoor wards of all teaching hospitals in protest against “lies and broken promises” of provincial bureaucracy and other representatives of the provincial government,” said Prof Dr Yasmin Rashid, PMA Lahore chapter President at a press conference at PMA House on Monday.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=189177 |
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| Monday, July 20, 2009 |
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| Doctors’ faction announces movement |
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The Pakistan Medical Association (Equity Group) has announced launch of a movement against the proposed regularization of doctors in the province. PMA (Equity Group) office-bearers Dr Sagheer Baloch and Dr Abdul Rauf, during their meeting held here on Sunday, rejected the formula of regularisation of doctors, terming it a ‘blunder’ and a ‘violation’ of the service rules. Claiming support of the Doctors Council Punjab, Postgraduate Doctors Association, Pakistan Dental Association and Punjab Teachers Federation, they announced that they would observe Black Day on July 28 against ‘illegal’ regularisation of some ‘favoured’ doctors.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=188988 |
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| Sunday, July 19, 2009 |
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| Physiotherapists stage protest |
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Scores of physiotherapists and students of the Physiotherapy department of the King Edward Medical University/Mayo Hospital, Lahore, held a protest rally from the Mayo Hospital to the Punjab Assembly building for their demands here on Saturday. The protesters, under the banner of the Punjab Physiotherapists Association and Punjab Physiotherapy Students Association staged a sit-in at the Chairing Cross to press the government for their demands including seats of house job, proper service structure, up-gradation of Assistant Physiotherapists (BS-16) to Physiotherapists (BS-17), regularization of services of working Assistant Physiotherapists BS-16 and Physiotherapists (BS-17) and establishment of Physiotherapy Council.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=5 |
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| Doctors’ regularization recommended |
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A committee headed by Punjab Chief Secretary Javed Mahmood has recommended immediate regularization of assistant professors, senior registrars, district and tehsil specialists working on a contract basis in the Health Department and a summary has been sent to the chief minister for approval. The meeting reviewed the proposals, submitted by the Health Department, and the committee recommended regularization of all senior registrars working on contract basis on the analogy of medical officers, women medical officers and dental surgeons.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=5 |
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| Friday, August 28, 2009 |
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| People taking stairs expected to live longer: study |
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Regularly walking from floor to floor in an office building decreased mortality risk by 15 percent, said Philippe Meyer, the main author of the study, which was done at the University Hospital of Geneva, a radio channel reported. Using the stairs improves fitness, body composition, blood pressure and lipid profiles, Meyer was quoted. “The challenge remains to develop successful population-based interventions, which promote physical activities that can be easily integrated into everyday life,” he said.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=195361 |
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| Thursday, August 27, 2009 |
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| Even modest fitness may extend lifespan |
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People who stay even moderately fit as they age may live longer than those who are out-of-shape, a new study suggests. The study, of nearly 4,400 healthy US adults, found that the roughly 20 percent with the lowest physical fitness levels were twice as likely to die over the next nine years as the 20 percent with the next-lowest fitness levels. “Our findings suggest that sedentary lifestyle, rather than differences in cardiovascular risk factors or age, may explain (the) two-fold higher mortality rates in the least-fit versus slightly more fit healthy individuals,” lead researcher Dr. Sandra Mandic, of the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, noted in an email to Reuters Health.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=195225 |
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| Wider waist boosts asthma risk |
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Women with extra fat around their waists are more likely to develop asthma, even if they aren’t overweight, a new study finds. The California Teachers Study of more than 88,000 women found the same association between obesity and increased incidence of asthma that has been seen in other research, according to the August 25 online report in the journal Thorax. But it also found a 37 percent increased incidence of asthma among women with a waist circumference of 88 centimeters — about 35 inches — even if they were of normal weight. That finding was an offshoot of a study originally intended to look at factors related to breast cancer in women, said study author Julie Von Behren, a research associate at the Northern California Cancer Center.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=195231 |
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| Exercise after 40 reduces heart disease: Study |
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It’s never too late to start exercising - former couch potatoes who begin to exercise vigorously after the age of 40 can reduce their risk of heart disease by half compared with their peers who remain sedentary. Researchers from the University of Heidelberg in Germany re-analysed data from a study of coronary heart disease that included 312 heart disease patients between 40 to 68 years old who were matched by age and sex to 479 healthy people, BBC radio reported. Study participants were asked about their patterns of physical activity since age 20. Those who reported being somewhat or very active throughout their adulthood had a 62- percent lower risk of heart disease compared to people who had not exercised in adulthood at all.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=195232 |
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| Replacement of genes works in monkeys |
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US scientists have replaced genetic material in monkeys using a method that could prevent dozens of incurable hereditary diseases from being passed from mother to child, said a study on Wednesday. “We think this technique could be applied very quickly in humans, and that it will work,” said Shoukhrat Mitalipov, who led a team of researchers at the Oregon National Primate Research Centre. “Many of the procedures we developed could be simply mirrored to existing clinical in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedures used in humans,” he told journalists by phone.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/replacement-of-genes-works-in-monkeys-789 |
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| Carpet underlays may cause cancer: study |
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Your carpet might be putting you at a greater risk of developing cancer, warns a respiratory physician. Bill Musk has revealed that hessian bags used to transport deadly asbestos products were later reused as carpet underlay, the BBC reported. Anyone exposed to the underlay risks developing mesothelioma, an incurable cancer. So carpet underfelt from these bags is definitely potentially dangerous. The programme interviewed several people, who believed some mesothelioma victims had been exposed to asbestos fibers from carpet. A spokesperson for Western Australia’s Health Department has urged home renovators to take care of their carpet. “The main thing is not to disturb it, and try and get some advice as to whether there is any dust in their house,” he said.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\08\27\story_27-8-2009_pg11_4 |
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| Wednesday, August 26, 2009 |
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| Tuesday, August 25, 2009 |
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| Depression doubles risk of dying after heart bypass |
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Patients with depression are more than twice as likely to die after undergoing surgery to bypass blocked coronary arteries than patients without this mental illness, according to a new study. While the link between depression and poor outcomes after heart bypass has been suspected, previous studies have not reached solid conclusions either because the number of patients studied was too small or they weren’t followed for long enough, Dr. James A. Blumenthal told. “Our study involved more than 800 patients who were followed for up to 12 years,” he explained.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=194821 |
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| Monday, August 24, 2009 |
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| Talk, drug therapy may ease depression |
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Women who are depressed during pregnancy can take hope that antidepressants and/or “talk therapy” may be safe and appropriate treatment options, according to new professional guidelines made public this week. “Depression in pregnant women often goes unrecognized and untreated in part because of concerns about the safety of treating women during pregnancy,” lead author of the guidelines, Dr. Kimberly Ann Yonkers, from Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, said in a statement. The guidelines on depression in pregnancy, which are based on an extensive review of prior research, were issued by the American Psychiatric Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=194619 |
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| Small birth size linked to sleep problems |
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Children who were born at a relatively small size may be more likely than their peers to have sleep difficulties, a new study suggests. The study, which included 289 8-year-olds born healthy and full-term, found that the lower the children’s weight and length at birth, the greater their odds of having poor sleep or sleep disturbances such as sleep-related breathing problems or nightmares. What’s more, mothers’ prenatal drinking — a habit that can impair fetal growth and development — was linked to a greater risk of childhood sleep problems. It’s possible that in some children, smaller birth size is a marker of alterations in nervous system development, which might affect the body’s sleep regulation later in life, the researchers report in the journal Sleep.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=194622 |
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DISCLAIMER: The contents of this newsletter are reproduced from sourced publications and organizations. These are catalogued for record and reference purposes for researchers and stakeholders of the health and communications sectors. This weekly e-newsletter is produced by Intermedia ( www.intermedia.org.pk), a Pakistani media development organization. Except where mentioned, Intermedia does not author the contents, which, therefore, do not necessarily reflect organizational policy. Intermedia will appreciate your feedback on this newsletter to improve it. For suggestions, clarifications or queries please contact Naveed Asghar at +92-51-2611-971 or naveed@intermedia.org.pk |
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| Friday, July 24, 2009 |
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| ‘Jamuns’ good for digestive system |
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Rich looking, dark purple ‘jamuns’ are now being sold on hand drawn trolleys, proof that the price has come down and there is an abundant supply available. According to internet information, Jamuns are commonly known as Java Plum, Black Plum, Jambul and Indian Blackberry, names which, frankly, I have never heard of and neither has anyone else! It is a healthy fruit with absolutely no trace of sucrose and therefore the only fruit with minimum calories and a rich source of vitamin A and C. The juice of the fruit is extremely soothing and has a cooling effect, helping in the proper functioning of the digestive system. The leaves of the tree also help in controlling the blood pressure and gingivitis.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=189727 |
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| Tuesday, July 21, 2009 |
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DISCLAIMER: The contents of this newsletter are reproduced from sourced publications and organizations. These are catalogued for record and reference purposes for researchers and stakeholders of the health and communications sectors. This weekly e-newsletter is produced by Intermedia ( www.intermedia.org.pk), a Pakistani media development organization. Except where mentioned, Intermedia does not author the contents, which, therefore, do not necessarily reflect organizational policy. Intermedia will appreciate your feedback on this newsletter to improve it. For suggestions, clarifications or queries please contact Naveed Asghar at +92-51-2611-971 or naveed@intermedia.org.pk |
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| Youth Helpline - a counseling service for adolescents and young people, increases its outreach |
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Rozan is in Islamabad based NGO with the mission to "have worked with all people, especially children, youth and women to collectively strive for a society that is violence-free, self-aware and accepting itself and others". Rozan's Youth Helpline for adolescents and young people, is now operational at the National level and can also be accessed through mobile numbers.
The Youth Helpline started in 2001, with the aim to provide adolescents and young people, the space and opportunity to share their concerns and feelings and take information regarding issues related to sexual and reproductive health, in an environment that is nonjudgmental. Till December 2008, it had received 28,471 counseling calls. Up till now the Youth Help line's toll free number 0800 22444 could have been accessed only from PTCL landline numbers with area codes of 05 and 09 that cover entire NWFP, northern areas and parts of Punjab. Owing to the increasing demand of young people (many of our callers call us from other areas as well via mobiles on our other landlines) as well as partner NGOs working with young people all over the country, to access this facility, the Help line's outreach has been increased. Now young people dialing from PTCL landlines from any where in Pakistan can access the Help line's number 0800 22444free of cost, whereas young people using mobiles will have to pay the regular landline charges. Youth Help Line's service is available seven days a week from 10.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. Here trained psychologists provide counseling and information on a range of issues such as lack of self confidence, peer pressure, inability to deal with family dynamics and relationships, inability to cope with anger, information about sexual and reproductive health, bullying, child sexual abuse, sexual and physical violence etc. in complete confidentiality . Youth Help Line provides adolescents and youth with an opportunity to gain information on social, psychological, and bodily changes they are experiencing and the ways to cope with them, to share their worries concerns and be acknowledged as a person, to receive impartial support and to be treated equally and fairly in an environment that accepts them for who they are.
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| Jakhrani for building capacity of health journalists |
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The potential inherent within public-private partnerships needs to be extended to the domain of building the capacity of health reporters and correspondents so that they can effectively highlight health issues, drum up support at the local and national levels, and provide critically needed information to communities, thereby influencing them to modify their lifestyle.
Minister for Health Mir Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani floated this proposal while addressing at an award ceremony organized by Inter-media and PAIMAN to recognize mainstream health journalists here on Tuesday.
"The relationship between health and media is of primal importance and we continue to make all out endeavour in pooling our energies with media organizations and personnel to inform, educate and motivate our masses to adopt a healthy lifestyle," said Jakhrani. He said the situation is particularly challenging in the country's rural areas where childbirth is considered a female problem and a pregnant woman is expected to bear all the difficulties and pain quietly.
The minister said that the Ministry of Health is implementing several programmes that are preventive in their essence and have, as an integral part, a robust public awareness and social mobilization component. "We have worked closely with TV channels both from the public and private sectors to establish an independent Polio Control Cell. The cell played a very useful role in helping the district authorities reach areas and houses missed during polio campaigns. It also instilled a sense of accountability among officials responsible for carrying out the task across the country," he cited as an example. Last year, the Ministry of Health conducted trainings of health journalists in collaboration with BBC and Geo TV. "The experience cemented our bond with health reporters from across the country including the tribal areas and we are now working closely with each one of them for attaining a common objective," Jakhrani recollected. Minister of State for Health Muhammad Afzal Sindho distributed gold and silver medals and cash prizes among reporters of print and electronic media. In print media, Tikka Khan, a reporter from 'Daily Ausaf,' got gold medal and reporter of 'The News' Sheherbano got silver medal. In electronic media, Muhammad Akhtar from Geo News got gold medal and Leena Maqsood from PTV (Lahore) got silver medal.
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| Course on Sexuality and Sexual Health conducted by International Trainers |
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Introduction:
Aahung is a Karachi based NGO that has been working to improve the sexual health of men, women, and adolescents since 1995. The Aahung team works towards enhancing the scope and improving the quality of services that uphold sexual health and rights. To achieve these aims, Aahung engages in awareness raising, capacity building, research and advocacy.
Course Content:
Aahung is organizing a 4-day course on Sexuality and Sexual Health from May 27th to May 30th, 2008. The course will be conducted by international trainers from 'Talking About Reproductive Health Issues' (TARSHI), New Delhi. This course will cover a diverse range of issues such as sexuality, human rights; international frameworks of rights; sexual rights; gender; anatomy and physiology; conception and contraception; abortion; sexual harassment, abuse, and violence; STIs; HIV/AIDS; and guiding principles for working on sexuality.
Participants:
This course isaimed at mid to senior level management staff, who are working in or have an interest in the field is sexual and reproductive health and rights. Twenty-five participants will be selected.
Venue:
The course will be held in Karachi. Venue to be announced.
Costs:
The course fee for each participant is Rs. 25,000, which covers all costs (except accommodation and travel). The participants are required to cover their own travel expenses to and from Karachi. Please also note that Aahung will not provide accommodation for participants during the training dates. A limited number of scholarships will also be offered to participants on a needs basis.
Course Methodology:
This 4-day course is based on a series of activities, lectures, presentations and participatory discussions aimed at introducing participants to the holistic concept of sexuality and sexual health and the multitude of issues involved therein. The medium of instruction will be in English.
Criteria for Applying:
Applicants must fulfill the following criteria: |
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Fluency in written and spoken English. |
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Mid level management or senior management. |
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Must be willing to complete full course and attend all days. (Participants who leave mid-way through |
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the course will not be given a certificate of participation). |
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Interest and experience in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights. |
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As place for this course is extremely limited (maximum of 25 participants) please ensure that you complete the included Application Form and return it to Aahung by May 10th, 2008 . If you intend to apply for a scholarship, please complete the included Scholarship Form and return it along with your Application Form. Applications received after May 10th, 2008 will not be considered.
Please remember that we require a commitment that participants attend the entire duration of the training.
| Click here to download "Course Application Form" |
Click here to download "Scholarship Application Form" |
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| 8th Annual Population Research Conference "Population and Regional Development Nexus" |
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Minister of Health Mr. Ejaz Rahim stressed the need for incorporating evidence into social sector policy development at the 8th Annual Research Conference organized by Population Association of Pakistan (PAP) at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad. He emphasized on the need for assessing and understanding the determinants of fertility within the Pakistani context where culture and social norms still play a major role in personal decision-making.
The theme of the conference was "Population and Regional Development Nexus" and was intended to promote and strengthen the discipline of |
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population agenda by bringing together researchers and policy makers working on issues related to population and development in Pakistan, which will help in disseminating research findings and their policy recommendations.
Dr. Naushin Mahmood, President, Population Association of Pakistan welcomed the distinguished guests and thanked to Dr. M. Qasim Jan, Vice Chancellor Quaid-i-Azam University for their collaboration and support.
Prof. John Casterline, Professor of Social Demography, Ohio State University elucidated the concept of unwanted pregnancies and how unwanted fertility impacts on the fertility transition. He explained that unwanted fertility was propelled by socio-economic factors that need further elaboration in Pakistan.
Dr. Qasim Jan said at the occasion that population underpins all developmental activities and has a wide range of ramifications on the social fabric of the country. He added that Quaid-e-Azam University is aware of the importance of the issue and it was in this spirit that the university collaborated with Population Association of Pakistan in hosting this conference.
Minister for Population Welfare Prof. Dr. A. J. Khan addressing the concluding session of the conference stressed the need of better coordination between health and population departments in order to improve access of family planning services in the country. Further more the minister appreciated the efforts by the PAP regarding organizing such kind of imperative conferences.
During the conference 39 research papers were presented in 7 technical sessions. In addition there were three panel discussions with the objective to highlight policy issues related to the theme of the Conference. Secretary General of PAP, Ms. Seemin Ashfaq summarized at the end the two-day conference and Dr. M. Qasim Jan, Vice Chancellor Quaid-i-Azam University, Dr. Naushin Mahmood, President, Population Association of Pakistan thanked all the participants of the conference. |
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| Maternal and Newborn Health Mela (Fair) |
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Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (JHU-CCP ) Pakistan office under Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) along with the National Program for Family Planning and Primary Health Care organized "Maternal and Newborn Health Mela (fair)" at historical Rohtas Fort Jehlum on November 7, 2007.
Mary E. Skarie-Director Health Office-USAID, Federal Secretary Health Khushnood Lashari, Director General Health Punjab, Dr. Aslam Chaudhary, District Coordination Officer Jehlum, Syed Pervez Abbas, Federal and Provincial Coordinators for Family Planning and Primary Health Care, LHWs, LHW supervisors, local community were present at the occasion.
Objective of this mega event was to mobilize federal and district health governments, Community based Lady Health Workers (LHWs) and the community for furthering their efforts for saving mothers and newborns in Jehlum district. Another objective was to acknowledge LHWs relentless efforts for saving mothers and newborns at community level. |
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Highlights of the event included acknowledgement and commitments from PAIMAN, government and USAID representatives, a special theatre play focusing on the key role of LHWs for saving mothers and newborns in the community, traditional centuries old puppet show, feedback from community representatives, comment from Lady Health Worker's Representative, famous singer Mr. Shafaqt Amanat Ali's live performance, comments from PAIMAN's Good Will Ambassador , well known television actor Mr. Naman Ijaz. Stalls were also setup by Ministry of Health, PAIMAN consortium partners including JHU-CCP, Save the Children US, Contech International, Population Council, Green Star and project's grantee NGOs. Objective was to project and/or disseminate information material on maternal and newborn health.
The event was widely covered in local and national press. |
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| Pakistan's first health communication website launched |
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Pakistani health communication professionals working on issues related to population and reproductive health (RH) joined hands with Mr. Chris DeCardy, Vice President of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation in launching Pakistan's first health communications website at a local hotel on March 21, 2007. |
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| The development of the website www.healthcom.pk has been funded by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation under a project where a group of health professionals from different projects and organizations have already been trained on using Smart Chart -a tool for designing and implementing strategic health communication interventions. |
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Speaking at the occasion Mr. DeCardy appreciated the efforts of the health communications professionals in bringing this field in the lime light with their continued efforts in their respective fields. He said the website is a step forward in the direction of their existing efforts and will provide as a great resource for professionals of the field.
Mr. Fayyaz Ahmad Khan Team Leader, Behavior Change Communication (BCC), Johns Hopkins University-Center for Communication Programs (JHU-CCP) briefly explained the different features of the website. Internet users can access the website through the link www.healthcom.pk. The main page of the website provides links to three broad categories of resources, news and events and the specified area for member login. It provides wealth of knowledge in the form of several sub links on national and international organizations, associations, alliances and other similar bodies working on RH issues, web based resources and online RH journals. The website also provides information on two of the main trainings being conducted in the field of health communication in Pakistan.
The website has been developed by CyberVision International a local software development firm providing web portal solutions, electronic magazine and communication consultancy.
Dr. Yasmeen Sabeeh Qazi -Senior Country Advisor, Packard Foundation in her concluding remarks thanked all the organizations for making the program a huge success and thanked Cybervision and JHU-CCP on successful launch of the website and hoped that it will provide communication professionals-working on RH issues across the country-a platform for sharing knowledge relevant to their field.
The meeting was attended by health professionals from different organizations. Ms. Kathy Toner, Program Officer Packard Foundation was also present at the occasion. |
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| Rozan conducts 2nd Smart Chart Workshop |
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The second Smart Chart Training Workshop was conducted by Rozan in Islamabad on March 1-2, 2007. The two -day training was part of the project, Improving Strategic Health Communication in Pakistan being implemented in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University and funded by Packard Foundation.
The training was offered to reproductive health specialists belonging to various public and private sector organization and was attended by participants from Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Karachi, and Islamabad.
The Smart Chart is a communication tool designed by the US based firm, Spitfire Communications which provides communication solutions to promote positive social change. This was the second training on the use of Smart Chart in Pakistan and the first one conducted by Pakistani master trainers. The first such workshop was held last year in which besides training twenty- two Pakistani professionals in the use of the Smart Chart, a US based team had also imparted special training to twelve selected participants in teaching this tool to others. The second workshop enabled Rozan to formally introduce the Smart Chart in the local setting.
The participants of the workshop found it very effective and shared that this tool could be utilized in their various projects. The participants appreciated the fact that each individual got an opportunity to apply the Smart Chart to their own context. However, most of them shared that it needed to be practiced and applied. Some of the participants especially involved with government/semi government projects emphasized the need for sharing the Smart Chart with important decision makers at the government level so there is more clarity towards work and less resistance when the Smart Chart tool is applied by planners and junior staff.
Participants also recommended that the workshop should be offered to at least two to three staff members of the same organization so that the trained participants can support each other when the tool is practically used.
Rozan, an Islamabad based NGO is working on issues related to emotional and psychological health, gender, violence against women and children, and the psychological and reproductive health of adolescents since 1998. |
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| Health Communication Day celebrated in Pakistan |
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CCP observes first Health Communication Day in Pakistan
CCP as part of its Pakistan Alumni Meeting organized a Health Communication Day at Islamabad on December 15, 2006. The Day featured panel discussions, expert's opinions, showcasing of communication materials and sharing of success stories. The participants included decision makers, program managers and communication experts from all over the country.
CCP has been organizing various training workshops in Pakistan since 2001 in collaboration with various partners including Population Council, UNFPA, Ministry of Population Welfare and USAID. It has so far trained more than 250 professionals, health managers and communication experts from public and private sector in designing and implementing health communication campaigns. The Alumni meeting brought together all the graduates of these workshops to discussion professional and alumni affairs. The meeting approved the design and contents of the Alumni website which will be launched in January 2007.
The morning session of the Health Communication Day featured a panel discussion,
Health Communication in Pakistan: Challenges and Opportunities. The session was designed to share insights of decision maker and leading health professionals focusing on their experiences in commissioning and/or devising health communication campaigns in their organizations. The second session was dedicated to viewing of three model mass media products for health communication in Pakistan. These included a play on family planning, Bezaban, a music video on male responsibility Main Hoon Na, and a mass media campaing for birth registration. The producers of these videos explained the objectives and audiences segmentation of these products . The presentations were followed by a questions session.Alumni affairs and future projects were discussed in the final session of the day. |
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| Saving Mothers of Pakistan needs commitment rather money |
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Pakistan could address 56% of its total burden of disease and significantly reduce the exceptionally high rate of maternal and child deaths by investing just 19% of its existing health expenditures on mother and child health. This is despite the fact that Pakistan’s current health expenditure was just 0.5% it’s GDP.
The above comments were made by Dr. Nabeela Ali, member Executive Council of White Ribbon Alliance, Pakistan at a media briefing on the State of Mother and Child in Pakistan arranged by WRA-P at a local hotel in Islamabad on July 16, 2009.
Elaborating her point, Dr. Nabeela mentioned that around 20,000 women die every year Pakistan due to pregnancy related cause. A huge majority of these deaths can be prevented by providing appropriate services and improving knowledge and behaviors at the household levels. This can be done at the cost of just US $ 39 per mother. She however regretted the fact that a meager 14% of budged was spent on primary health care which catered to 90% of the population, while 40% of the health budget was allocated to tertiary care hospitals that served only 1% of population.
Dr. Nabeela emphasized that while government had a responsibility to improve health and wellbeing of its citizens the fact remained that only 20% people benefited from government health facilities while the rest relied on private health care. It is therefore important, she added that health is considered a joint responsibility instead of always blaming the government in failing its duty to provide healthcare to everyone.
Earlier, Dr. Tauseef Ahmad, President, White Ribbon Alliance Pakistan informed that WRA-P was established in December 2006 under the 1860 Societies Act with the mission to save women and newborn lives. WRA-P is an independent, non-profit, and non-political, professional organization, affiliated with the global grassroots movement for safe motherhood and has 300 registered members from different walks of life. The advocacy services are focused on reducing maternal deaths through the provision of quality family planning services. WRA-P has taken the initiative to share the responsibility and provide advocacy support to all the stakeholders. The objective of the alliance is to advocate and improve knowledge on maternal health and care related issues and create demand for safe-motherhood services among communities, families and decision makers” said Dr. Tauseef while introducing the White Ribbon Alliance – Pakistan.
“WRA-P facilitates designing and promoting strategies to achieve 100 % births delivered by skilled birth attendants and for timely, adequate, easy and affordable access to high quality emergency obstetric care services for all. WRA-P is a forum for the public and private sectors to seek advice on policy formulation, operational planning and implementation and program monitoring” added Dr. Amanullah Khan, the General Secretary of the WRA–P. He also thanked the speakers and the media personnel for taking the time out and making the event a success. |
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