SSUET takes initiative for students exploring CPEC

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) has launched a far-reaching academic initiative aimed at acquainting its students of the background and benefits of multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

In this regard a group of some 40 students, 10 faculty members and supporting staff of the university were taken to a visit to Gwadar through the Makran Coastal Highway to show them on the ground implementation of various projects being carried out under the auspices of the CPEC. 

The visit was organized in collaboration with the Pakistan Navy officials during which the students were taken around the Gwadar Port and the ongoing development sites. 

The trip was enriched with briefings from Army, Navy, Gwadar Port Authority and Gwadar Development Authority officials on CPEC progress, future plans and their impact on Pakistan. 

The tour was followed by report writing and presentations by students on what they had learnt and the outcome of the visit. 

In connection with more exposure to the CPEC the visiting SSUET students along with faculty members participated in number of events which included an International Conference on Economic, Business and Social Research organized by Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Science l at Uthal Campus; a seminar on CPEC Priorities and Challenges, organized by Express TRIBUNE at a local hotel and a seminar on CPEC Myths and Challenges, Organized by Institute of Engineering Pakistan.

Besides, the SSUET is planning to invite Vice Chancellors of both public and private universities from Sindh and Baluchistan to share the valuable information on current and future scenario of the CPEC and its impact on Pakistani youth.

Increased taxation on cigarettes demanded

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

At the emergency meeting, heath professionals belonging to National Alliance for Tobacco Control (NATC) Pakistan Chest Society (PCS), Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) and Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) raised serious concern on the recent news that Federal government is considering decrease in the taxation on cigarettes in the upcoming budget.

The health experts pressed the government to increase taxation on cigarettes in order to curb the growing tobacco epidemic in the country. It was also demanded that the ‘Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of non-smoker’s Health Ordinance of 2002’ be strictly enforced in order to protect the public health from tobacco which happens to be the single largest preventable cause of death in Pakistan. 

Pakistan is one of the countries where cigarette consumption is increasing with the passage of every year as according to a WHO report, every adult consumes 510 cigarettes on average every year which is alarming. 

Cigarette smoking kills 100,000 Pakistanis every year. This death toll is far greater than total deaths occurring as a result of suicidal bombings, traffic accidents and crime related killings in a given year. Significant increases in tobacco taxes are a highly effective tobacco control strategy and lead to significant improvements in public health.

The research conducted by International Agency for Research on Cancer last year has shown that 50% increase in inflation adjusted price reduces smoking prevalence by 20%. 

Prof Javaid Khan, Consultant Chest Physician from Aga Khan University and chairman NATC, said that the taxation on cigarette in Pakistan is lowest in the region. The low taxation rate encourages the public, especially youth. 

Quoting a research conducted by World Bank, he commented that increasing the tax by 10 percent can reduce the tobacco consumption by 8 percent in low income country like Pakistan. 

He also warned that tobacco in any form increases an already extensive risk of Heart disease in individuals suffering from hypertension and/or diabetes. Nicotine present in tobacco increases insulin resistance in the body and hampers good control of diabetes, he explained. 

Dr Khan also regretted the closure of Tobacco Control cell in Islamabad which was working under ministry of health. 

Prof. Nadeem A Rizvi. President, Chest Health and Education Society, and Head of the department of Chest Diseases JPMC, said that tobacco was responsible for almost 50% of all cancer cases in the country, yet smoking is still being advertised in the country at the point of sale and is portrayed through TV drama serials as a pleasurable, cool, glamorous and an adventurous act. He demanded a comprehensive ban on all forms of tobacco advertising and sponsorship in the country. 

Dr Nisar Rao of Dow university of Health Sciences said that passive smoking is a serious health risk to a non-smoker. He necessitated that all public places and public transport should be made truly smoke free in order to protect the health of non-smokers. 

Addressing the doctors of Pakistan, he said that they should not only set a good example by not smoking themselves, but also work to make their clinics, health centers and hospitals smoke free. 

Dr Sohail Akhter, an office-bearer of PIMA, requested the lawyers to come forward and help in the litigations against the tobacco industry for its violations of anti-tobacco laws of the country. The tobacco industry should be held responsible for deaths that are taking place every year in the country as a result of tobacco use.

Research on new approaches to eradicate polio

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The threat of polio in conflict-hit areas of Pakistan can be reduced through a package of community-based strategies integrating maternal child health services and routine immunizations, according to a new study published in The Lancet Global Health.

The research conducted by health experts from the Aga Khan University in partnership with the Peshawar Medical College, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Canada’s Centre for Global Child Health at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, tested a range of interventions in 387 insecure areas of the country in Bajaur, 

Karachi and Kashmore where children are especially vulnerable to contracting polio: a disease that has been eradicated in all countries except for Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. During the study, researchers identified a range of problems leading to new cases of polio being reported in the country every year. 

These challenges included children not being present at home during immunization drives, healthcare workers being denied access to particular areas or being unable to cover all homes in an area, distrust of vaccination activity among the population, and fatigue caused by recurrent polio-focused immunization drives. 

The researchers were able to expand coverage of the polio vaccine in insecure areas by deploying a wide range of approaches. 

These interventions included the introduction of pictorial health awareness campaigns, community mobilization and engagement through local volunteers, and the running of holistic health camps after national immunization drives that addressed the unmet need for mother and child health services in these areas. 

These steps enabled low cost, accurate health information as well as vaccinations to be provided to over 50,000 families, helped address the problem of children being missed in national drives and alleviated the potential hesitancy of those refusing polio vaccines delivered through frequent door to door immunization campaigns. 

Furthermore, by focusing each intervention in a distinct cluster, researchers were able to assess the effectiveness of each approach and to recommend which measures would help meet global and country polio eradication targets most effectively. 

“Ensuring that no child is missed in polio vaccination campaigns is especially challenging in areas in Bajaur and parts of Karachi where the law and order situation limits access to vaccinators. There is also widespread suspicion of immunization activity across the country which is why one of the approaches we tested involved building trust within communities,” Dr Sajid Soofi, associate professor in paediatrics and child health at AKU, remarked. 

Dr Saeed Anwar, associate professor in community health sciences at Peshawar Medical College, added that healthcare teams, consisting of community mobilisers from the area, were trained to deliver accurate information about immunization to parents and local healthcare providers. Focused sessions were also held with community leaders, religious figures, teachers and other prominent officials at the union council level. 

Speaking about the value of these approaches, Dr Anwar said: “By employing local influencers to manage projects and by focusing on personalised sessions with local stakeholders we were able to gain access to previously unreachable areas and thereby protect more children from this preventable disease.” 

The study also disproved a view that providing an anti-polio injection, the inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV), alongside polio drops, the oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), would result in opposition from the community. Researchers noted that data showed that eight out of ten families agreed to their child receiving the IPV when it was delivered as part of a comprehensive health package that provided vital hygiene, nutrition and antenatal services to mothers and children. 

“Since the eradication of polio is a national and global imperative, we worked closely with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as federal and provincial governments to generate evidence that can help achieve the objectives of the National Emergency Plan and the WHO’s Polio Eradication Initiative. Importantly the study’s findings also contribute to targets related to vaccine coverage and immunization against communicable diseases under Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals,” the senior author of the study Professor Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, founding director of AKU’s Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health and the Chair in Global Child Health at the Centre for Global Child Health in Toronto, observed. 

“Our package of interventions enabled us to boost coverage of the oral polio vaccine by 8.5 per cent in areas where there was previously fierce opposition to immunization campaigns. Our steps to organise temporary health camps providing broad-based health services ensured that we reached two-thirds of targeted children and families and helped us to provide booster injections to ensure that every child stayed on track with the four-dose schedule needed to eradicate polio,” he added. 

Previous research by the Aga Khan University, which was published in Science Direct in 2013, demonstrated that the use of booster doses of the IPV enhanced immunity in children and contributed to the eventual introduction of IPV in Pakistan’s routine immunization programme in late 2015. 

This study also generated evidence that strengthened the case made by the WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) for booster doses of IPV to be made a part of Routine Immunization programmes around the world. 

Dr Mohammad Assai, Pakistan Country Head for the WHO, said: “The eradication of polio worldwide requires global partnerships that combine medical expertise with strong community health research capabilities. Working in partnership with a range of universities and multilateral organisations has helped us generate the evidence to strengthen immunization systems and to expand vaccine coverage so that the world stays on track with targets under the global Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan which aims to eradicate the disease by 2018.” 

He added that initiatives focused on engaging communities and officials at the grassroots level were enabling people to get involved in local efforts to boost public health and well being which were translating into more effective polio campaigns in Pakistan. 

The study Community engagement and integrated health and polio immunisation campaigns in conflict-affected areas of Pakistan: a cluster randomised controlled trial was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and was completed over a period of four years of planning and execution

AKUH teams up with provincial tuberculosis control programme

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sindh Provincial Tuberculosis Control Programme (PTP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) to establish it as a Treatment and Referral centre for patients suffering from tuberculosis (TB).

TB is a contagious disease and an untreated patient can infect up to 15 people over the course of a year. Although treatable, the disease is widespread across Pakistan due to factors including delays in its diagnosis, inappropriate and unsupervised use of medicines and an absence of social support programmes for high risk populations. 

These issues have not only failed to contain the disease but have also lead to the emergence of drug resistant forms of TB, as patients fail to the understand the importance of follow-up doctor visits and continued treatment. 

The TB Treatment and Referral Centre at the AKUH had been established to address this alarming health concern. 

The AKUH has the largest group of Infectious Diseases specialists in the country who will be working in collaboration with the Pharmacy Services at the AKUH, to dispense quality TB medicines. 

The TB Treatment and Referral Centre also plans to educate the public that TB is not a silent disease and can be recognized by its evident symptoms (persistent cough for more than three weeks, low grade fever, coughing up blood, night sweats, loss of appetite and weight and perpetual fatigue) and be treated with antibiotics over a course of 6 months. 

At the ceremony, AKU’s Professor and Service Line Chief, Dr Bushra Jamil commented on the importance of this Centre and said, “The AKUH is delivering high quality care utilizing established best practices for patients of all ages with all forms of tuberculosis according to international standards for tuberculosis care. 

The AKU Mycobacterial Laboratory is the only Supranational Reference Laboratory for TB in the country. The role of National and Provincial TB Control Programs in engaging private institutions through Public Private Mix (PPM) strategy is commendable”. Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that most commonly affects the lungs. 

However, it can also affect any part of the body such as the kidneys, eyes, joints, spine, and brain. TB is a curable disease but can be fatal, if not detected and treated properly. TB poses a major public health challenge in Pakistan. 

In 2015 Pakistan was ranked fifth amongst TB high-burden countries worldwide according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and accounted for 61% of the TB burden in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Nationwide study to explore impact of maths and science teaching

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has granted funding for an innovative study designed to identify how different methods of teaching Mathematics and Science can improve children’s understanding of these key subjects.

The study will be conducted by researchers from the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Educational Development (IED) over a period of at least three years. 

During this period, educational experts will analyse a demographically representative sample of children and teachers across the country to gather evidence on how educators perceive existing educational methods and to identify teaching approaches which give students the strongest grasp of concepts in these two areas. 

“Students who excel in Mathematics and Science possess the skills needed to innovate and to power Pakistan’s progress. By evaluating the value of teaching methods in these two subjects in classrooms across the nation, we will be able to recommend initiatives that will raise teaching and learning standards across the country,” Dr Sadia Bhutta, an assistant professor at IED and the principal investigator of the study, stated. 

“Through our findings, we also hope to support the government’s efforts to achieve commitments under Goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relating to education. Achieving the targets set under the SDGs related to proficiency in mathematics and competency in technical skills will go a long way towards boosting the employment and entrepreneurship prospects of the next generation of Pakistanis,” she added. 

Commenting on the need for such a study, IED Assistant Professor Nusrat Fatima Rizvi added that there were still doubts among stakeholders in the education sector on how improvements in teaching methods translate to better learning outcomes for students. 

“An absence of evidence on which teaching approaches were the most effective meant that it’s difficult to encourage teachers to try new methods and to gain training in new educational techniques. This can lead to the persistence of teaching methods in classrooms that fail to engage students resulting in an aversion to these key subjects. Besides finding out which teaching approaches are the best for students, our project will also incorporate findings into professional development programmes for educators so that we can immediately realise the benefits of the research.” 

The study Assessing Teachers’ Pedagogical Practices and Students’ Learning Outcomes in Mathematics and Science across Primary and Secondary School Levels: A Nationwide Study is set to begin in November 2017 and will be conducted by faculty and students at AKU-IED, under the direction of Dr Sadia Bhutta and Dr Nusrat Fatima Rizvi.

Prof Dr Afzal Haque appointed SSUET VC

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Prof Dr Mohammad Afzal Haque has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi, and the notification in this regard was already issued.

The newly appointed Vice Chancellor has vowed to bring the SSUET amongst the top ranking engineering universities of Pakistan in the private sector. 

“I have accepted the Vice Chancellorship as a challenge and I am very well aware of the challenges faced by the varsity and will leave no stone unturned to resolve them,” he remarked 

Prof Dr Afzal Haque has vast experience of teaching and management. He had remained associated with the NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, as Vice Chancellor from 2013 to 2017. 

Earlier he had served in Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, for three years, the University of Surrey England for three and half years and worked for the University of Manchester for two years. He has been the Managing Director of National Education Foundation (NEF) for 10 years. 

In recognition of his services he was decorated with the Presidential Award Aizaz-e-Fazeelat. He was also bestowed with International Scientist of the Year Award IBC, Cambridge, UK, in 2001.

SSUET hold prominent place in academic sector: Chancellor

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Chancellor of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) Jawaid Anwar firmly believed that his institution holds a prominent place in the academic sector due to its high standard of education and the training it imparts to its students.

"The graduates of the SSUET hold leading positions in many national and international organizations, where they are proving their metal and are fully equipped to take on the challenges of present and future requirements,” he remarked in an interview. 

Pointing out that this is an era of knowledge-based economy in which small countries such as Singapore and South Korea have excelled, the Chancellor asserted that keeping the importance of education in mind, the access to, and use of modern technological education are central to social development and the key to the evolution of human civilization. 

“Keeping this important factor in mind, the SSUET has been established to advance the concepts and ideology of the great thinker, scholar and social reformer, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, who not only promoted education but was instrumental in the progress of Muslims and Islamic renaissance,” the Chancellor said. 

"Aligned with the philosophy of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA) had established the SSUET, the first engineering university in the private sector where ideas are encouraged and all resources mobilized to promote research, innovation and development activities while special incentives offered to the faculty members for research work so that they may pursue it with full concentration and dedication," he added. 

Chancellor Jawaid Anwar informed that besides new programmes, the university has introduced new engineering and science departments keeping the present day challenges in mind 

"We have given a new direction to SSUET to meet all the standards set by Higher Education Commission (HEC) and to make the university an exemplary institution so much so the HEC has maintained the highest rating for the university,” he concluded.

Jalaluddin hails Toyota Highway Motors’ Go Green Mission

By Ehsan Qureshi 
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Prominent members of cricketing community have come out to make Karachi green and joined hands with Toyota Highway Motors in planting trees in a bid to check growing environmental pollution to some extent.

Noted cricketers like Pakistan's most successful outgoing captain Misbah-ul-Haq, spin magician of his time, Iqbal Qasim, former Test opener, Sadiq Mohammed, former Test all-rounder Ejaz Faqih, hockey Olympian and 1984 Los Angeles gold medalist, Hasan Sardar, and ex-Junior and a member of 1979 Junior World Cup winning team in France Jan Mohammed, are among the figures who have planted trees to go all out with the slogan one tree each to make Karachi green. 

The latest in series of the prominent sportsmen was Jalaluddin, the man who who had the distinction of accomplishing the first hat-trick in One-Day International against Australia at Niaz Stadiim Hyderabad 32 years ago. 

The former Test fast bowler and now a highly quailed coach was the guest of honour to plant a tree on May 13. Among other dignitaries to grace the occasion was the veteran journalist Abdul Qadir Qureshi, the Chief Editor of Jumbo Karachi Guide, who had been promoting Go Green cause through his reporting since he was a junior reporter.

Lack of greenery in this part of the country has been portrayed as a big problem as the governments of today and yesterday showed least interest in developing greenery in the wake of all time high environmental pollution, more specially in Karachi, the world's seventh populous city which is the business hub of the country but far behind in greenery concept. 

While other organizations have had limited success to meet national expectations in this regard, Toyota Highway Motors, just a few kilometers from Sohrab Goth (Zero Point) on Super Highway, has come out with the daunting task to share the mission to make Karachi Green and to slightly remove the stigma on this once city of lights. 

Having set a target of planting 5,000 trees as initial count for their mission, the company’s CEO Shujaat Sherwani announced that they provide one plant free of cost to each of their car buyer.

As part of the mission they introduced a unique concept of inviting Pakistan's sports legends to promote the slogan of Green Karachi. 

This slogan started with Pakistan's most successful test captain Misbah-ul-Huq who was visibly moved by the idea and highly appreciative of the same while planting a tree along Super Highway, followed by other legends. 

With carrying out the mission of this Green Slogan, Shujaat Sherwani extended warm reception to the eminent visitors, also awarding them attractive shields besides paying them tributes for their services and bringing fame and name to Pakistan. 

"It has always been my passion to honour sporting legends and be a humble promoter of Go Green and this has doubled my enthusiasm,” he observed in a brief speech on the occasion. Maintaing their tradition officials of the Toyota Highway Motors led by its CEO Shujaat Sherwani, General Manager Sales and Marketing, Shad Ali Khan, Ahsan Sherwani, Manager Sales, Irfan Zaidi, gave a standing ovation to both Jalaluddin and Abdul Qadir Qureshi. 

Giving his reaction, Jalaluddin said initially he was reluctant to come for a visit here because of lack of information, but now he was highly impressed with the missionary zeal being exhibited by Shujaat and his team for a noble cause besides extending a true respect to country's legendary figures.

"Go Green is a great concept and our country badly needs to overcome the serious problem of environmental changes which is risking the lives of millions of Karachiites. I am highly impressed to see lots of trees having been planted already,” he complimented. 

He described it a great mission and said that the one-car-one-tree was certainly a unique and novel idea to promote the cause. 

He said that he felt himself proud for planting a tree here and he will come again to see his plant having grown as a big tree consuming pollution to some extent. 

Shujaat Shewani appreciated the services rendered by Abdul Qadir Qureshi in the domain of journalism through his positive reporting skills and regretted that presently positivity was on the way to extinction with negativity having taken strong roots. 

The veteran journalist, in his speech, enlightened the gathering by sharing his experiences, particularly those related to coverage of various Presidents and Prime Ministers during their visits abroad. 

On the occasion, Shujaat Sherwani presented a Max Dirt Track official shirt to Jalaluddin which is designed to promote newly developed world class track in Hub on Sindh-Balochistan borders. He recalled that Captain of 2009 World T20 winning team Younis Khan also attended the Max Dirt Rally and took a round of track and complimented the organizers for promoting this popular sport.

Australian educationist praises The Hub School

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Hub School, founded by the Jaffer Foundation and situated on the outskirts of Karachi, has started attracting the educationists from abroad and among the many, the noteworthy of them was Patricia Johnson, an Australian who is teaching about 8,000 Chinese in China. 

Whilst Abdul Kader Jaffer, the current President of the Jaffer Foundation, a former Pakistan's High Commissioner to UK, was also the President of the English Speaking Union (ESU) for Pakistan, while Patricia was the ESU President for Australia and Queensland. 

Talking to media at Hub School after a visit along with his husband, Patricia recalled that she had met Abdul Kader Jaffer met at many international conferences over the years and she admired him very much indeed. 

She added that Pakistan had hosted an ESU Conference in 1997 and she was absolutely amazed at the hospitality, especially extended by Abdul Kader Jaffer himself. It was the most remarkable of any conference she attended, Patricia complimented. 

She also remembered her visit to Lahore, Islamabad and Moen Jo Daro, the 5,000 years old ancient city Referring to her visit to the school, she spoke about her meeting with the Principal, the Deputy Principal and the staff who thoroughly impressed her. 

The school, although is at its early stage, had quite a good enrollment with not only paying students but also many on scholarships. Patricia appreciated the greenery developed around the school and said that while walking around the manicured lawns and pretty shrubs and glorious purple bougainvillea, she could not help but realize millions and millions of rupees have already been invested by the Jaffer family and generous friends and donors. 

"What an exceptional gesture this is for the future of the young men and women of Pakistan,” she remarked adding that this school will be the leading and most successful school in the country due to the diligence and persistence of Abdul Kader Jaffer, a driven man, and his loyal and supportive board of trustees and staff, all on a mission to ensure this project comes to fruition to education generations of children for the future of their country. 

Patricia said that she and her husband were thoroughly impressed and astounded that The Hub School has been built to emulate the English style of boarding schools in Karachi and was sure that the students from around the world will be on a waiting list in a few short years to attend. 

"What will be a school breeding successful men and women in law, medicine, engineering, the military and government and indeed all walks of life,” she reckoned. 

The all credit for this goes to Abdul Kader Jaffer who proved himself as a successful diplomat and businessman, having given many years to NGO’s and especially our ‘like-minded’ ESU. 

Paying her compliments to Abdul Kader Jaffer, Patricia said he served his nation as an Ambassador for Pakistan in London. His home and office and The Hub School are adorned with his pictures and paintings with his famous father besides renowned dignitaries from all over the world. 

 According to her, to return to Pakistan this time was amazing. There has been such a change and they were astounded by how much western influence there is and how many spectacular buildings there are. 

"We were amazed that this huge project is just extraordinary! The Jaffer Family Foundation has donated 240 acres of land about an hour out of town and the school has been surrounded by a 10 ft high wired brick wall with security guards 24 hours a day to protect their students. The buildings are the latest and of the highest quality and everything has been planned meticulously,” he noted. 

“There is quite a good enrollment at this early stage and we were pleased to hear that not only are there paying students but many on scholarships. The boys were quiet, polite, very well behaved and beautifully dressed in their white shirts and ties and khaki trousers. Lunch was delicious and served very professionally by well trained staff,” she continued. 

"And this is Pakistan! An amazing place, even more impressive than it was last time I was in this lovely bustling fascinating country,” she observed in her concluding remarks adding that The Hub School was a very special project that they will follow with great interest and hope they can also contribute in some way to the success that it will obviously enjoy in the years ahead.

HIV Testing, Treatment and Referral Centre available at AKUH

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The National AIDS Control Programme in coordination with the Sind AIDS Control Program has established the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) as the HIV Treatment and Referral Centre.

The public-private partnership aims to encourage HIV-affected individuals to get tested and seek appropriate treatment for HIV in a private and confidential manner. 

Karachi alone has the highest number of HIV patients across Sindh, as revealed in a report by SACP. This is primarily attributed to the lack of awareness regarding the disease and its treatment, as well as the unavailability of HIV screening and a shortage of medicines. 

AKUH has the largest group of Infectious Diseases specialists in the country which makes this Centre unique as it will provide treatment to both adults and children infected with HIV, as well as offering facilities for the prevention of parent to child transmission all under one roof.

At the same time the Centre will also serve as a referral site to manage complicated cases referred from other Centers around the country. 

Given the long history of education and research at the AKUH, the Centre will provide hands on training to other HIV care providers on the management of this complex disease and serve to coordinate HIV research in the country. 

Utilizing the vast network of the AKUH laboratory collection points, and with the help of the Global Fund, the AKUH will provide viral load testing (lab test that measures the number of HIV virus particles in a millilitre of your blood) for HIV patients and free of cost medicines throughout the country. 

The Centre aims to treat 600 patients in a year. At the inauguration ceremony, AKUH Professor and Chief, Dr Bushra Jamil gave special thanks to Dr Abdul Baseer Khan Achakzai (National Programme Manager, NACP), Dr Muhammad Younis Chachar (Programme manager, SACP) and Dr Sofia Furqan (Senior Programme Officer, NACP) for their continuous help and support in making this HIV Treatment and Referral Centre possible. 

Speaking on the need to pay attention to the rising numbers of HIV-affected population, Dr Bushra said that trained health care professionals in both government and private settings will have to put in a concerted effort to prevent the situation from escalating through a multipronged approach. HIV compromises a person’s immune system and restricts the body’s ability to fights organisms that cause diseases. 

HIV can lead to the development of AIDS, which is a chronic, life-threatening condition and is the final stage of infection causing eventual death. Pakistan is one of the few countries where there is a lack of awareness regarding HIV/AIDS. 

People have been hesitant in getting themselves screened or treated as the disease is considered culturally taboo and is associated with a stigma of shame. However, with increasing access to medical care, this trend is slowly changing.