AKU – Newswire Pakistan

March 29, 2023March 30, 2023

Another feather in the cap for Dr Bhutta

Karachi, March 29, 2023 (PPI-OT): Dr. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, distinguished university professor and founding director of the Institute for Global Health and Development and the Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health at the Aga Khan University, has been awarded the prestigious Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research for his contributions to global child health. The Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research is a prestigious award that recognizes outstanding contributions to health research. Established in 2005 by the Friends of Canadian Institutes of Health Research (FCIHR), the prize is awarded annually to a researcher who has made a significant impact on health research globally. Nominees are evaluated based on the impact and quality of their research, as well as their contributions to the broader health research community.

A prominent name in the circles of public health research and global health advocacy, Dr Bhutta has made outstanding contributions to the field of child health and development, with a focus on improving maternal and child health in developing countries. This is evident from his impressive academic background, his association with leading global health institutions, and the list of various honours conferred on him. As a Distinguished National Professor of the Government of Pakistan, Dr Bhutta chairs the Board of Governors of the National Institute of Health, Pakistan. He has also served as co-Chair of the Maternal and Child Health oversight committee of the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) and as a technical member of the high-level UN Health and Human Rights committee.

Dr Bhutta is a leading member of major Lancet series advocating for evidence-based interventions in global health. He leads large research groups based in Pakistan, Canada, and Central Asia, with a special interest in research synthesis, scaling up evidence-based interventions in community settings, and implementation research in fragile health systems. Recently, he led the Lancet series on optimizing child and adolescent health (2022), which provides a blueprint for post-COVID-19 recovery for children globally. Till date, he has published over 1,275 indexed publications, including ten books and over 150 book chapters. He is one of the most highly cited academics in global health

Dr Bhutta has received numerous awards and recognitions over the years, including being admitted to the National Academy of Medicine, elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, and ranked among the top 100 medical scientists globally by Research.com. He was recognized by the Senate of Canada with its Canada 150 Medal for contributions to Global Child Health and awarded the Roux Prize 2021 for his work on evidence-based public health impact. Dr Bhutta is also the recipient of the John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award that recognizes his work on the development and evaluation of evidence-based interventions in child and maternal health for marginalized populations.

Professor Bhutta is one of the earliest members of AKU’s faculty. Having begun his career at AKU in 1986, the University provided a foundation for his illustrious career in which he built research programmes on maternal and child health and nutrition with national and global impact. At AKU, he holds the title of Distinguished University Professor – the highest faculty rank the University can confer – as well as an Award of Distinction and Award of Excellence in Research. As the recipient of the Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research, Dr Bhutta will deliver public talks in 2023 in conjunction with the Friesen Prize Program.

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
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Email: rasool.sarang@aku.edu, public.affairs@aku.edu
Website: www.aku.edu

March 14, 2023March 15, 2023

Global experts highlight the role of mathematics in everyday life

Karachi, March 14, 2023 (PPI-OT): To commemorate International Day of Mathematics (IDM), the Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED) held a conference titled ‘Mathematics for EVERYONE’, in collaboration with The Dawood Foundation (TDF)’s Magnify Science Centre. The two-day event highlighted the connections of math with life. The first day of the conference was held in person and included several interactive sessions, math displays, learning activities and workshops. Sessions for the second day were all held online. Dr Nusrat F. Rizvi, Associate Professor, AKU-IED shared that: “This year’s theme emphasises that mathematics is not confined to classrooms, textbooks, or teachers’ minds. Rather it is embedded in all sorts of human experiences. This requires teachers to reflect on how they can provide practical learning experiences to their students.”

Karima Esmail, co-author Dynamo Maths, discussed a predicament a large number of the world population faces when it comes to understanding mathematics, saying: “The key is to understand that there’s a difference between simple math developmental delays and dyscalculia. With proper identification and then intentional and purposeful intervention, it is possible to make headway in treating it as well as saving suffering individuals from a world of distress.” Dr Andreas Matt, Managing Director, IMAGINARY, who delivered one of the keynote addresses titled, ‘Let’s play with Artificial Intelligence!’ said: “For me, mathematics is not only a universal language we all speak, but it also is a common base of reasoning, of connecting ideas and understanding, and of asking questions, that nobody has answered yet. And, at its core, it is very creative and playful! Thus, it is for everyone!”

“Our world, more than ever before, is pervaded by mathematics: I do believe that by working together we can find ways for us all to engage with and enjoy those ideas,” said Dr Jenefer Golding, Associate Professor, University College London. The esteemed professor delivered a talk on ‘Large scale international studies in mathematics: benefits, limitations and their potential for teachers and teacher educators’. Prof. Stephen Lyon, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, AKU, emphasised the importance of using math to understand the complexities of the world around us. After conducting a session titled ‘Kinship Algebra and Cultural Reproduction’ he said: “Mathematics is a great tool for describing and understanding the world around us. The versatility of the different branches of mathematics open new ways of formally analysing complexity that enhance all disciplines-especially the ones that are trying to make sense of the rich and messy chaos of human thought and behaviour.”

Regarding the collaborative effort between AKU-IED and TDF’s MagnifiScience Centre, Ms Sabrina Dawood, Vice Chair, TDF shared: “This conference has opened the doorways for teachers and students of Mathematics to explore the world through the lens of logic. Not only do events like this pave the way for better teaching and learning, but also for a better understanding of how math can be used to solve daily life problems.” With a high turnout, both in-person and online, AKU-IED hopes to see a practical shift in the way Mathematics will be taught to students in Pakistan.

May 19, 2022May 20, 2022

AKU to launch first Advanced Practice Nursing training in Pakistan

Karachi, May 19, 2022 (PPI-OT):AKU has developed Pakistan’s first Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) training programme, which is endorsed by the Pakistan Nursing Council as a pilot programme for potential scale-up, and is currently being discussed with the regulatory bodies for its formal launch in the country.

This was announced by Dr Rozina Karmaliani, Dean of AKU School of Nursing and Midwifery, at an event celebrating the nurses and midwives. Speakers highlighted various challenges faced by nurses and midwives, their invaluable contribution to the healthcare system and the proposed strategy to improve the working conditions as well as career growth opportunities for them.

“Currently, the burden of healthcare is unevenly distributed with only one nurse supporting two doctors, midwives and Lady Health Workers combined. With APN training and practice, nurse specialists will be able to manage preventive and non-communicable diseases thereby reducing the overall healthcare burden,” Dr Karmaliani pointed out.

“The health care system needs a transformative approach given the growing challenges in terms of the pandemic and climate change and to bridge the gap between what is desired and what is happening on ground,” emphasized Khairunnissa Hooda, Interim Chief Nursing Officer at Aga Khan University Hospital.

“Simultaneously, there’s a paradigm shift in the way patients are consuming healthcare services, they want it to be close to their home and community. We are targeting to launch a general model of APN and gradually progress to sub-speciality model. It would positively impact the patients’ access, their experiences, and clinical outcomes. Hence, we believe this is absolutely the right time to develop APN roles in Pakistan,” she added.

Chief guest on the occasion, AKU President Sulaiman Shahabuddin praised the efforts of nurses and midwives. “We celebrate the countless contributions that nurses and midwives make every day to our health and wellbeing. AKU has been following World Health Organisation guidelines and engaged in promotion of nursing and midwifery for over four decades in education, jobs, leadership and service delivery to meet Universal Health Targets and Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing,” he said.

“Today, we are so proud that AKU has graduated more than 8,000 nurses in Pakistan, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda,” he added. Professor Lisa Bayliss-Pratt, Program Director at Nursing Now Challenge encouraged early career nurses to become a part of Nursing Now Challenge, a global platform that brings together nurses from around the world, supporting them with leadership capacity building, advocacy and clinical skills.

Sandra Oyarzo Torres, VP at International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) highlighted the role of ICM in collaborating with midwives globally. She urged everyone to provide fair working conditions and standardised regulations for midwives. Dr Zeenat S Khan, Regional CEO, Aga Khan Health Services stressed that investing in nursing education and nursing jobs goes hand in hand. “Advanced Nurse Practitioners will be able to work in the communities ensuring equal health access for all.”

Other panellists included Dr Shahid Shafi, Chief Executive Officer, AKUH; Dr Asim Belgaumi, Chief Medical Officer, AKUH; and Dr Adil Haider, Dean. AKU Medical College. Dr Carl Amrhein, Provost and Vice President, Academics also spoke at the event.

May 19, 2022May 20, 2022

AKU’s first building achieves EDGE Advanced certification

Karachi, May 19, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Aga Khan University Centre in Nairobi has achieved EDGE Advanced certification for its multiple sustainability features. The certification was made possible through verification by independent EDGE auditors, Sintali. EDGE Advanced requires that at least 40 percent energy is saved in the building operation in contrast to an average new construction in the respective area, and at least 20 percent savings in both water and embodied energy in materials.

From inception, the University Centre has considered sustainability aspects while designing with the user in mind and making the most of the very small site of less than two acres. “The certification of the University Centre is exemplary for its holistic approach, taking sustainability and energy reduction right into the building design, not something added on later. Similarly, designing spaces that allow students and educators to nourish their learning is something other institutions in the region can learn from,” said AKU President Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin.

The building is exceptional in how it responds to real estate pressures in the city while also creating very humane spaces for people. The Parklands district has high-rise buildings coming up all over to become denser and urban in character, whereas the University Centre design resists the temptation to maximize real estate by simply going vertical with a single footprint.

Mark Careaga, the Project Representative for the Lead Consultant, Payette, reflects on the design experience: “This unique ‘inside-out’ building, which creates an urban experience in miniature within a small, constrained site, shows how architecture, landscape, urban design, and sustainability can be woven together into a coherent composition, creating a highly functional academic building with a distinctive campus life experience.”

Nairobi has a very temperate climate, with warm days and cool nights. Being closely situated to the equator allows for very high sun angles from both the north and the south. The Centre takes full advantage of this, with numerous open-air spaces and verandas that serve as the primary corridors on each floor.

Learning spaces were designed to serve various learning interactions outside of classrooms, including wide corridors for huddles or the central courtyard, which functions like a town square including a grid of Meru oak trees, where students can easily crisscross. Views onto the exterior greenery enables mental health benefits for users of the 22,200 square meters of above-ground building space.

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), and with it AKU, has set itself the ambition to attain net zero carbon operations by 2030. Detailed greenhouse gas accounting of AKU’s operations has found that over 80 percent of energy is consumed by and in buildings. The AKDN’s Green Building Policy mandates a number of measures, including new buildings to achieve at EDGE Advanced or even EDGE Zero standards, regular energy audits, or that each year five percent of existing building space becomes carbon neutral to operate.

EDGE, Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies, is the International Finance Corporation’s innovation to mainstream green buildings and thus help fight climate change. EDGE was created to respond to the need for a measurable and credible solution to prove the business case for building green and is currently available in more than 170 countries.

May 13, 2022May 14, 2022

AKU President hosts diplomat dinner

Karachi, May 13, 2022 (PPI-OT):Sulaiman Shahabuddin, President of the Aga Khan University, hosted a dinner in honour of diplomats from around the world in Karachi.

“AKU’s mission is to improve the quality of life in the developing world and beyond, through world-class teaching, research and healthcare delivery,” said AKU President while briefing diplomats on the University’s contributions and social impact.

“AKU educates students for local and global leadership from campuses and teaching hospitals in six countries, including Pakistan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Afghanistan and the United Kingdom. Being a not-for-profit institution, all revenues generated by the University and its hospitals are invested back in education and research, and in helping patients and improving healthcare,” he stressed.

Mr Shahabuddin also talked about AKU’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030. “AKU’s first solar power project in Pakistan is a key step forward to realising our environment and climate ambitions. Using renewable, clean energy brings not only cost savings but benefits people and the planet alike,” he said.

The dinner was attended by diplomats from France, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and other countries.

April 30, 2022May 5, 2022

Lancet series on optimising child and adolescent health and development

Karachi, April 30, 2022 (PPI-OT):Despite recent progress, the world is at risk of failing to meet child and adolescent health targets, with more than 8.6 million deaths among children and adolescents (aged 0-20 years) recorded in 2019. Comprehensive, coordinated care that begins at preconception and lasts through adulthood is urgently needed to reduce childhood mortality and improve child and adolescent health, according to a new series published in The Lancet.

The authors of the Lancet Series on optimising child and adolescent health and development called on global leaders and policymakers to replace current approaches to child and adolescent health, which are often fragmented by age groups or specific health conditions, to offer comprehensive care that spans nutrition, preventive health, education, economic, and community support across age groups from preconception through age 20.

The new collection of papers also highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted health and education services as well economies and social systems, putting recent progress toward achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in jeopardy and increasing children’s vulnerability to violence, abuse and mental health conditions.

“The challenges faced in responding to the needs of children and families during the COVID-19 pandemic should serve as a wake-up call to the global community, underlining the urgent need to transform the child and adolescent health agenda on a global scale,” said the series coordinator and author Dr Zulfiqar Bhutta, Founding Director of the Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, and the Institute for Global Health and Development at the Aga Khan University; and Co-Director of the SickKids Centre for Global Child Health, Toronto.

“We have less than eight years to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and many child and adolescent health targets are off track. A holistic approach that supports children and their families from before birth through early adulthood is urgently needed to bring us back in line, building a foundation that will last a lifetime and improve health outcomes, economies, and society,” added Dr Bhutta.