(AKU) – Newswire Pakistan

April 4, 2023

Dr Farah Qamar feted with Pakistani National Award

Karachi, April 04, 2023 (PPI-OT):Dr Farah Naz Qamar, Associate Professor and Consultant Paediatric Infectious Disease at AKU has been awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi, in recognition of her contribution to public health. Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence) is the fourth highest honour given to a civilian for their achievements and contributions towards the nation.

Dr Farah is a clinician researcher by profession. Her area of interest and expertise is paediatric infectious diseases. Her research portfolio consists of several large grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization, Wellcome Trust, Sabin Vaccine Institute and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). Dr Farah’s long-term goal is to decrease child mortality by making an impact on policy and advance capacity building in research in paediatric infectious diseases in Pakistan. She has more than 100 publications in peer reviewed journals.

Commenting on how quickly Dr Farah’s work translated into action, Dr Salim Virani, Vice Provost Research at AKU remarked: “It is said that it takes 17 years for knowledge to be translated into clinical practice. Dr Qamar’s work has shown us how to effectively narrow that knowledge translation gap. Her research portfolio has directly benefited the communities that we serve and represents one of the best examples our core principles of impact, quality, relevance, access that define our values as a university.” In 2008, Dr Farah completed her Master’s in Clinical Research at the Aga Khan University and was awarded the Dean’s Award in 2018 and 2021 for Outstanding Junior Research Faculty and Outstanding Senior Research Faculty respectively.

Earlier this month, Dr Farah had the privilege of presenting her research findings to Princess Zahra Aga Khan at AKU’s research showcase ‘At The Tipping Point’. She spoke about her research investigating the outbreak of XDR typhoid in Pakistan and how her findings led to the introduction of the typhoid vaccine in the routine immunization programme of the country.

For more information, contact:
Media Executive
Department of Public Affairs
Aga Khan University (AKU)
Stadium Road, Karachi
Tel: +92-21-34930051
Fax: +92-21-34934294, +92-21-34932095
Cell: +92-301-8258028
Email: rasool.sarang@aku.edu, public.affairs@aku.edu
Website: www.aku.edu

April 3, 2023

Aga Khan University and Aga Khan Heath Service, Pakistan Joint Programme receives CPSP Accreditation

Karachi, April 03, 2023 (PPI-OT):A training programme for Family Medicine specialists in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Chitral, run jointly by the Aga Khan University (AKU) and Aga Khan Heath Service, Pakistan (AKHS, P), has received accreditation by the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP). Providing quality care in rural and remote settings remains a significant challenge in Pakistan and globally. Family Medicine is a primary care medical specialty that offers ongoing and comprehensive healthcare services for individuals and families of all ages, managing a wide range of illnesses and conditions across the lifespan. As such, it is uniquely suited to meet the challenge of improving healthcare access for rural and remote communities. However, physicians are often not trained to work in low-resource settings, and the lack of career growth opportunities and low pay scales lead to high turnover rates, creating gaps in care for these communities.

With this accreditation from CPSP, doctors in GB and Chitral have a unique opportunity to access world-class training in Family Medicine at their doorstep. Doctors can now complete a two-year residency programme at designated health and medical centres of AKHS, P and at AKUH, and sit in the Member of College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (MCPS) exam. This will, hopefully, open the path to a rewarding career for doctors as well as pave the way for providing quality care to rural and remote populations. Commenting on what the accreditation means for the community, Dr Unab Khan, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Family Medicine at AKU said: “Starting this two-year training was necessary to improve the health and well-being of our rural and remote communities. Now with the CPSP accreditation, we hope more doctors from these areas will want to join the GPP residency, and get trained to take care of their own communities”.

Family Medicine in the spotlight

The training and supervision for residents (trainees) of the Global Physician Programme (GPP) is provided through funded from Global Affairs Canada. GPP is a two-year structured residency programme in Family Medicine, that uses a pipeline model, training doctors from rural and remote areas in their own geographical settings. This is a tested and proven model that has led to a higher retention and better community health indicators in several countries. The GPP programme was initiated in GB and Chitral by AKU and AKHS, P in 2021 and so far seven doctors have been inducted to complete the training. GPP aims to produce well-rounded, competent physicians that willing and able to serve the diverse health needs of rural communities of GB and Chitral.

GPP residents are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to address the unique disease burden of these regions, including maternal and child health and mental health. In addition, the curriculum focuses on residents receiving comprehensive training in life-saving skills for all age groups. In remote areas where timely access to these life-saving skills can be the difference between life and death. Commenting on the importance of this accreditation, Sajid Hussain, Head of Clinical Units at AKHS, P said: “The GPP Programme is, contextually, an ideal fit for resource-constrained geographies like Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. The buy-in from the government and CPSP is an important first step to help address the problem of retaining qualified and well trained specialists in rural and remote communities.”

Early results

With their broad skill-set ranging from obstetrical and new-born care to non-communicable diseases to stabilization and referral of emergencies such as road traffic accidents, doctors participating in GPP have already started making a significant impact on the access and quality of healthcare available to these communities. An example of the GPP’s value was demonstrated during the recent floods in GB and Chitral, where GPP residents participated and at times played key roles in AKHS, P led response teams. Along with providing general medical care, they also helped to control the spread of communicable diseases and provided counselling on prevention and mental health. This highlights the unique value that trained family physicians can provide in a healthcare team, particularly in resource-scarce settings.

Onwards and upwards

GPP is a crucial initiative that holds tremendous potential to make a positive impact on the health of rural and remote communities in GB and Chitral. By training well-rounded family physicians in rural settings, the GPP aims to address the shortage of doctors and reduce the burden of preventable illnesses. As the first cohort of residents is set to graduate in August 2023, and the third cohort is expected in July 2023.

With the CPSP accreditation, the impact of the Programme on communities promises to be far-ranging: trained physicians will have an incentive for staying in remote areas where their abilities to practice the full spectrum of Family Medicine from preventive care to life-saving procedures will no doubt be a game-changer for addressing the health needs of these communities. Along with a reduction in morbidity and mortality rates, these training will also help to reduce the number of unnecessary referrals thereby reducing financial burden of disease for these communities.

March 28, 2023March 29, 2023

AKU Kenya launches undergraduate programmes

Karachi, March 28, 2023 (PPI-OT): The Aga Khan University (AKU) will offer two new undergraduate degree programmes in Kenya from September 2023: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Direct Entry. The Commission for University Education, CUE, has accredited these programmes which attests to AKU’s programmatic growth as it seeks to create leaders in communities from where its students are drawn. “With the launch of the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery programme, our promise is that our undergraduate programme will represent the latest iteration of innovative competence-based medical education, or what we are christening Medical Education 3.0,” said Prof Lukoye Atwoli, Dean of AKU’s Medical College, East Africa.

This is a milestone for the University which is popularly known for its postgraduate programmes in medicine, nursing, midwifery and media and communications. Targeting high school leavers, the two programmes aim to transform the higher education landscape in the region. Dr Eunice Ndirangu-Mugo, Dean at AKU’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, East Africa said, “The direct-entry BSc Nursing will augment our existing programmes especially as we aim to get closer to achieving Universal Health Coverage by increasing the quantity and competence of nurses simultaneously.”

The two programmes will be offered simultaneously in a unique setting that brings student doctors and nurses together to gain interprofessional education. “These two undergraduate programmes will leverage on emerging innovations at AKU in simulation learning, telemedicine, data science and electronic health records,” said Dr Carl Amrhein, AKU Provost and Vice President, Academics. Admissions for the two programmes are currently ongoing and will close in May.

March 18, 2023March 20, 2023

Aga Khan University Graduates 777 Students, Celebrates Founder’s Day and 40th Anniversary

Karachi, March 18, 2023 (PPI-OT): The Aga Khan University on Saturday celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2022, its first-ever Founder’s Day and the University’s 40th anniversary. Simultaneous ceremonies were held in Pakistan, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and broadcast online to an international audience of AKU’s friends and supporters. Princess Zahra Aga Khan attended the ceremony in Karachi and shared a message from His Highness the Aga Khan, Founder and Chancellor of the University.

Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah was the Chief Guest. A total of 777 students graduated from AKU’s global campuses with diplomas and degrees in 19 fields, bringing the total number of diplomas and degrees awarded by the University to more than 19,000, including more than 4,500 in East Africa. In Pakistan, the School of Nursing and Midwifery graduated its 5,000th student. Students graduated in nursing, medicine, education and media and communications.

“Graduands, my wish today is that you will know the joy of planting hope in people’s lives, of building bridges of understanding, of venturing into the uncharted waters where new knowledge is discovered,” His Highness the Aga Khan said. “May your futures be rich in challenges embraced and overcome. May you be bold amid uncertainty, and see your boldness rewarded.” AKU dates its inception from the receipt of its Charter from the Government of Pakistan on March 16, 1983, making this its 40th anniversary week. Founder’s Day is a new annual tradition at AKU. On Founder’s Day, the University reflects on the vision of His Highness the Aga Khan, celebrates AKU’s impact and recognizes all those who are making the founding vision a reality: faculty, staff, donors, volunteers, students, alumni and partners.

Princess Zahra Aga Khan expressed her gratitude to the global University community for the “magnificent gift” of its support for AKU over the past four decades. “As we mark its inaugural Founder’s Day, its 40th anniversary and the graduation of the Class of 2022, AKU has never had more to celebrate,” she said. “I am deeply, deeply grateful to everyone who has made its journey possible.” President Sulaiman Shahabuddin paid tribute to His Highness and “his vision of a university that reconciles loyalty to international standards with service to those in need, that prepares its students to use knowledge to identify and solve problems, that demonstrates that science is the property of no single culture, but of all humanity.”

“It is thanks to his singular devotion to making that vision a reality, no matter the obstacles, that we are here today,” President Shahabuddin said. Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, the Chief Guest of the ceremony, said, “I am glad to be able to take this opportunity to thank the members of the AKU community who came to the aid of their fellow citizens in their hour of need, whether as volunteers or as donors. The fact that so many AKU students participated in the University’s flood response speaks highly of them and of the education that they have received here.”

AKU’s 40th year will see the launch of several new academic programmes. In Pakistan, classes will begin at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. In East Africa, the University will begin offering a six-year Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing. In Kampala, Uganda, the University is building a new campus that will include a University Hospital and academic centre. In his message, His Highness the Aga Khan traced AKU’s 40-year journey from 1983 to the present, calling AKU a source of hope and expressing pride in its achievements and confidence in its future.

“Today, as in 1983, the future of the University lies in the hands of its leaders, faculty, staff, and supporters,” His Highness said. “Together, all of us are the custodians of the founding vision. Our history gives us every reason to believe that so long as we remain true to that vision, AKU’s light – the light depicted in the University’s seal – will grow ever brighter, helping to illuminate the path to a better future for the people it serves.” In his valedictory speech, Mian Arsam Haroon urged his classmates to “transform into action the knowledge you have received in the halls of this university and honor the commitment of the village that raised you.”

The Chief Guest in Tanzania was Ambassador Manfredo Fanti, Head of the European Union Delegation to Tanzania and to the East African Community. In Uganda, the Chief Guest was Ms Cornelia Penzel, KfW Country Director for Uganda. In Kenya, the Chief Guest was Dr Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, Principal Secretary, State Department for Higher Education and Research.

February 22, 2023February 23, 2023

AKU signs MoU with Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute

Karachi, February 22, 2023 (PPI-OT):The Aga Khan University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, TAWIRI, to benefit research development and informed policy decision making in Tanzania. The partnership will see the two institutions leverage on the University’s land in Arusha for studies on wildlife, including pollinators, beekeeping and bee research for livelihood improvement and environmental conservation.

“Knowledge will be flowing from TAWIRI to AKU and vice-versa. AKU will be sharing its Arusha campus land to enable researchers to investigate a number of important conservation issues, and document research findings. We look forward to bringing our future students to TAWIRI to learn more about your ongoing work, your interventions, and your approach to research,” said Dr Carl Amrhein, AKU Provost and Vice President Academics. AKU is currently working with TAWIRI staff to implement research projects around pollinators and their role in fostering sustainable agriculture in Tanzania.

“We have been working with many other collaborators to implement various research projects – both national and international projects. Currently, TAWIRI is managing more than 20 research projects in various thematic areas. Through research, TAWIRI has managed to contribute significantly to the growth of the tourism industry and livelihoods among the communities especially those living in adjacent protected areas,” said Dr Eblate Mjingo, Director General at TAWIRI.

The signing of the agreement was facilitated by AKU’s Global Engagement office. TAWIRI is a parastatal organization under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism responsible for conducting and coordinating wildlife research in Tanzania. AKU recently established its 3,700-acre Arusha climate and environmental research station in Tanzania. The site is meant to be a “living laboratory” for studies related to climate change, environmental stewardship, biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, community engagement and other fields.

February 22, 2023February 23, 2023

Pioneering Stem Cell Research Conference at The Aga Khan University Brings Together Global Experts

Karachi, February 22, 2023 (PPI-OT):The 8th Annual Surgical Conference in Pakistan aimed to promote collaboration between clinical specialties and basic science by convening experts from academia, research labs, and healthcare organizations worldwide.

The conference focused on the latest developments, challenges, and opportunities in the field of stem cell research and its implications for surgery, with the aim of fostering innovative solutions for fatal diseases, such as heart diseases, strokes, burns, various cancers, diabetes and more. These are increasingly burdening the healthcare system and economy of Pakistan, and the overall quality of life of Pakistanis.

The chief guest, Prof Atta-ur-Rehman who is a UNESCO Science Laureate and Professor Emeritus, International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, said: “Sharing ideas is the first step towards innovation, and this conference is an unprecedented move towards encouraging discussions about the challenges associated with the field of stem cell science.” Prof Rehman has previously served as Pakistan’s Federal Minister of Education and Science and Technology.

50 experts from around the world participated in the discourse, with keynote addresses by Helena Pereira De Melo from Nova School of Law Lisbon, Portugal, Catherine Prescott from Cambridge Network, UK, and Marita Eisemann-Klein from Germany, to name a few.

Distinguished guest speakers, most of whom were invited from outside of Pakistan, delivered talks at the conference. Professor Arnold Richard Kriegstein, from the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research at the University of California and San Francisco (UCSF), commended the Aga Khan University for its pioneering efforts in initiating stem cell research in Pakistan and expressed pride in collaborating with the University to establish the stem cell center at AKU.

Professor Ather Enam, the Scientific Director of AKU’s Juma Research Laboratory emphasized the significance of the conference stating that it was a one-of-a-kind event in the University’s history that centered on the theme of bringing stem cell research from bench to bedside and into clinical trials. It was a unique opportunity for field experts, policymakers, and other stakeholders to collaborate and build momentum towards this goal.

Dr. Saleem Islam, the Chair of Surgery at AKU, stressed the importance of conducting basic science research in the region, despite the difficulties that come with it. Dr. Islam asserted that the reason AKU and Pakistan pursue this type of research is precisely because it presents a formidable challenge and that they must persevere in their commitment to undertaking challenging work.

In addition to the main conference, a series of pre-conference workshops were conducted to provide researchers with hands-on training and capacity building in stem cell science and biotechnology. The event also provided a platform for young researchers to showcase their work through oral and poster presentations and engage with their peers from around the world, thus fostering the exchange of scientific knowledge and building translational bridges. The conference proceedings are now available as a special supplement in the Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association.