(AKUH) – Page 5 – Newswire Pakistan

June 16, 2022June 27, 2022

AKUH Nursing Education Services Reaccredited by the American Heart Association

Karachi, June 16, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Aga Khan University Hospital’s (AKUH) Nursing Education Services has been reaccredited as an International Training Centre (ITC) by the American Heart Association (AHA). Having first received the accreditation back in 2016, AKUH has again been reaccredited for the next three years, following a thorough audit that included site observation, monitoring, and evaluation of training aspects including all the courses taught.

Following an on-site audit in March 2022, results announcing the successful compliance with all measures and standards required for the reaccreditation were announced in June 2022. The accreditation recognises and acknowledges the impact of the Nursing Education Services Team’s course instructors (nurses and physicians) and Centre for Innovation in Medical Education (CIME) Team for their extensive collaboration and great efforts in achieving this milestone.

Lauding the performance of everyone involved in the reaccreditation process, AKUH’s Chief Nursing Officer Khairunnissa Hooda said, “The reaccreditation is a testament to our commitment to training our nurses and physicians with the latest Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation procedures and techniques, and making sure our nursing staff is equipped with these basic life-saving skills to serve our patients better during their time of need.”

Praising AKU’s commitment and expertise, the AHA noted that the AKUH’s Nursing Education Services is familiar with the medical and training needs of health care providers within Pakistan, holds expertise in resuscitation science and training, and provides training in Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) using the curricula and training materials of the AHA.

For more information, contact:
Marketing and Communications,
The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH)
Stadium Road, P.O. Box 3500, Karachi – 74800, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-111-911-911
Email: akuh.information@aku.edu
Website: https://hospitals.aku.edu/pakistan/

June 13, 2022June 27, 2022

Princess Zahra Pavilion Wins International Architecture Award

Karachi, June 13, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi’s private wing, The Princess Zahra Pavilion, won the third place at the 12th Casalgrande Padana Grand Prix awards 2019/2021. Backed by a rich 30-year history, with more than 1,800 projects entered by 1,300 designers from all across the globe, the Casalgrande Padana Grand Prix is a permanent fixture on the international architectural scene.

A seven-member jury comprising renowned architects, interior designers and design journalists from across the world announced the decision after carefully evaluating numerous architectural designs competing in the latest edition of the competition. The awards ceremony took place on May 27, 2022 at the MUDEC Museum and Exhibition Centre of Milan dedicated to interdisciplinary research on the cultures of the world.

The Princess Zahra Pavilion won third place in the “Public Building” category. Other award categories included Shopping and Office Centres, Residential Buildings and Façade Cladding, Outside Flooring, Swimming Pools and Spas.

Some noteworthy architectural and design features of the Princess Zahra Pavilion include the interiors, colour, texture and flooring patterns and, decorated carpets. The ceramic flooring of the hospital, with its light, bright surfaces, offers a novel take on the textile and symbolic tradition of the Persian carpet. The decorative patterns and coloured borders add emotional value to the technical performance and hygienic qualities of the material, bringing a welcome homely sensation to the setting.

The facility was carefully designed to provide peace and tranquillity to patients as they recuperate from clinical procedures. Inspired by Islamic art and culture, the architecture and landscaping have been carefully crafted to create a calming environment that contributes to patients’ healing process and early recovery. The building, which started operations in 2019, serves as the private wing for the hospital. It was named the Princess Zahra Pavilion in 2021, in honour of Princess Zahra Aga Khan.

May 24, 2022May 25, 2022

AKUH Clinical Laboratory Re-Accredited by the College of American Pathologists for the Third Time

Karachi, May 24, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Aga Khan University Hospitals Clinical Laboratory has received the gold standard College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditation for the third time and remains the only clinical laboratory in Pakistan to receive this prestigious accreditation. This accreditation is a certification that AKUH Clinical Laboratories follow over 3,500 standards to provide our patients timely and accurate results every time.

A team of seven inspectors – practicing professionals qualified through CAP training programme – visited the Aga Khan University Hospital and its Outreach Health Network on a two-day visit from 10 March to 11 March 2022, to audit AKUH laboratory’s quality records, staff qualifications, validation of tests, equipment, facilities, safety programmes and overall management against 3,500+ indicators.

Shagufta Hassan, CEO AKU Outreach Health Network, Pakistan said that the Clinical Laboratories of AKU are a national asset and have grown from one laboratory on its Stadium Road campus in Karachi to over 294 phlebotomy centres and 13 stat-laboratories across 126 cities in Pakistan. “AKU is recognised as a leader in its academic programmes and clinical services.” She continued, “We strive to achieve the highest standards of quality that not only meet but exceed the expectations of their families.”

At the debriefing after the audit, the CAP inspectors expressed their satisfaction and commended the efforts of the teams who were involved in maintaining highest quality standards everyday. “There are no showstoppers in this place. You’re a busy place and you’re a very complex place; it’s probably one of the most complex labs in the world. You have a big checklist with a lot of items and it takes a strong team, with a lot of deep understanding of the different disciplines [to do this work]. You should be very proud of that,” said Dr Aaron Han, Chief Auditor CAP.

Mr. Suleiman Shahabuddin, President, The Aga Khan University, expressed his gratitude to the team for achieving this milestone for the third time and said, “We have excellent people, who are passionate to deliver highest quality healthcare and have a drive to constantly improve our operations so that our patients and their loved ones are satisfied that they are in good hands.”

“We are committed to the delivery of accurate and timely results for our patients by providing highest levels of quality standards and transparency,” said Dr Farooq Ghani, Director CAP accreditation. The Aga Khan University Hospitals and the AKU Outreach Health Network, Pakistan has a robust Patient Welfare and Zakat programmes. In 2021 alone, 950,000 patients received Zakat support work PKR 3.7 billion.

March 31, 2022

Sara Vazir (Sara’s Henna) spends a day with paediatric cancer patients

Karachi, March 31, 2022 (PPI-OT):On Thursday, Sara Vazir, an international henna artist, visited the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), to raise awareness about paediatric cancer. She spent time with the young patients, drew henna tattoos on their heads, played games and left them with gifts. Sara is a bold supporter of children with cancer and their families. The main purpose of her visit was to raise awareness regarding childhood cancers and the emotional and mental support that is critical for both cancer patients and their families.

Upon arrival, Sara was welcomed by faculty and staff at AKUH, primarily from Paediatrics and Paediatric Oncology. She was briefed on the initiatives taken by AKUH in providing support and care for children and their families, to make their stay at the hospital comfortable.

She lauded the efforts made by the oncology department at AKUH in ensuring that children and their families receive the highest quality, empathetic care, and treatment possible. She stressed that medical treatment alone is not enough, the right support and environment are critical in ensuring complete recovery from paediatric cancers.

Speaking about Sara Vazir’s visit, Dr Sadaf Altaf, Assistant Professor, Department of Oncology at AKU said, “These activities are for children because they don’t like coming to the hospital, and we’re trying to make their experience a fun-filled one, ensuring that immunocompromised children have all the opportunities at their disposal to enjoy what life has to offer.”

Sara distributed pre-Ramazan gifts among the children admitted to the paediatric wards, but the highlight of the event was Sara painting henna tattoos, signifying that children with cancer are no less in any shape or form. Sara invests in this art form for children with cancer, free of charge and has taken part in this initiative with various local healthcare institutes.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 400,000 children and adolescents develop cancer each year. While cancer signs and symptoms are like other childhood diseases, early diagnosis is imperative and can play a crucial role in treatment. A multidisciplinary approach is vital in managing the disease and a holistic patient experience.

AKUH offers this multidisciplinary approach and is committed to providing access to the highest quality care to all, regardless of their financial ability. In 2021, AKUH offered Welfare and Zakat support worth PKR 3.67 billion to over 950,000 patients. AKUH welcomes Welfare and Zakat support for its Paediatric and Paediatric Oncology programmes among others. To support the cause, visit giving.aku.edu

March 24, 2022

World Tuberculosis Day

Karachi, March 24, 2022 (PPI-OT):March 24th commemorates the fight against Tuberculosis (TB), considered to be one of the deadliest infectious diseases globally. Striving to be free from the TB epidemic by 2035, Pakistan still has a long way to go before it achieves that goal.

Pakistan ranks 5th amongst the high burden countries in the world affected by TB. The prevalence, incidence, and mortality per 100,000 population per year from TB in Pakistan are 348, 276, and 34 respectively, therefore raising awareness and educating the public about TB becomes ever so crucial to protect ourselves and the larger community against it.

Source: National Institute of Health, Pakistan

Tuberculosis and its symptoms

According to Dr Faisal Mahmood, Section Head Infectious Diseases at the Aga Khan University Hospital, “Tuberculosis is a type of bacteria which usually causes an infection in the lungs. However, this can also infect other parts of the body including the abdomen, brain, bones, etc.”

TB consists of two types, in latent TB the bacteria which causes the infection is inactive and does not cause symptoms. While Active TB causes symptoms, and can also be transmitted from one person to another.

“While the infection spreads through the tiny droplets that are released into the air when one sneezes or coughs. The bacteria can travel long distances after someone coughs, therefore TB of the lungs is considered to be the most contagious.”

Active tuberculosis is contagious and patients usually develop symptoms like coughing, chest pain, fever, and unintentional weight loss. The bacteria can travel long distances after someone coughs, so it’s important to limit social interactions if diagnosed with TB.

Prevention and Treatment

Prevention and treatment for TB depend on the spread of infection, and the areas it has affected. “TB in lungs is the most common form of the disease, causing a chronic cough. While the disease may also lead to unexplained weight loss and low-grade fever,” says Dr Faisal, adding that early detection of the disease is essential in treatment.

“Anyone with low-grade fever and cough or unexplained weight loss should see their physician, and if you are diagnosed with lung TB, make sure to stay in a well-ventilated room, only cough in a tissue paper and throw in a covered bin, make sure to take your medications and people taking care of you should not be known to have weak immunity.”

Having said that, TB is completely curable using medications prescribed by your doctor. The usual length of treatment is 6 months though in certain types of TB this may be prolonged. The medication is readily available at government-designated treatment centers, AKUH being one of them.

How to protect yourself?

The best possible protection against the disease is provided by the vaccine available for infants and children. However, in certain circumstances, medication can also be used to prevent the disease.

March 22, 2022March 24, 2022

Oral Health in Children

Karachi, March 22, 2022 (PPI-OT):A healthy mouth is essential for maintaining your child’s overall health. If neglected, oral health issues may lead to various chronic health diseases in your child. Therefore it is essential to monitor, check and care for your child’s oral health from an early age.

Importance of children’s oral health

Good oral hygiene practices, comprising healthy teeth and gums, lead to efficient chewing and digestion of food which in turn leads to a healthy body. According to Dr Rashna Aga, Consultant Dentistry at The Aga Khan University Hospital, “Tooth decay in children is a result of poor oral hygiene, due to which they may experience pain in chewing, resulting in limited food intake, thus affecting their overall health and wellbeing,” adding that poor oral hygiene practices amongst children may lead to a cumulating of plaque deposits in the mouth, which puts them at risk of various diseases like bacterial endocarditis.

Risk factors associated with oral health

Increased intake of sugary foods and drinks increases the chances of tooth decay. Improper tooth brushing technique along with low frequency of tooth brushing may lead to poor gum health and infection. “If your child’s teeth are malaligned, they may be more susceptible to poor oral hygiene as it becomes difficult to clean crowded and crooked teeth. Some malocclusions may also predispose a child to jaw pain or chewing and speaking difficulties,” says Dr Rashna.

Health issues due to declining oral health

Poor or declining oral health may lead to pain and swelling in the teeth and gums which decreases a child’s oral food intake, which may lead to malnutrition in extreme cases. Failure to follow hygienic oral health best practices predisposes a child’s mouth to bacterial colonisation which may also be a cause of heart problems as well.

Ways to improve your child’s oral health.

Ensuring your child brushes twice daily, once after breakfast and once before going to bed; this helps keep your child’s teeth and gums healthy.

Brushing of teeth should be started as soon as your child’s first tooth emerges in the mouth.

Avoiding sugary foods and drinks, and brushing following intake of these helps prevent cavities

A regular oral check-up with a dentist to identify any problems at an early stage prevents extensive decay thus keeping the child’s mouth disease-free.

A child’s first visit to an orthodontist (braces specialist) should be at the age of 7 years to identify any functional problems in their bite which need to be corrected with braces while the child is growing.