WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)، AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY AND FATIMA JINNAH MEDICAL UNIVERSITY COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH- WHO PATIENT SAFETY WEEK (17th -23rd September)

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor Professor Khalid Masood Gondal in connection with the joint medical research of the World Health Organization, Aga Khan University and Fatima Jinnah Medical University. On behalf of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Edna KARA, Dr. Sami GOTTLIEB, Dr. Soe Soe THWIN and Dr Saima Ousse participated, and on behalf of the Aga Khan University, Dr Salim Jasani participated.

Former Vice-chancellor Prof. Shamsa Humayun, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kamran Khalid Khawaja, Principal Noreen Akmal, Chairperson Gynaecology Prof. Ayesha Malik, Chairperson Medicine/ Dean of Nursing / Director Quality Enhancement Cell Prof. Bilquis Shabbir, Registrar Prof Muhammad Nadeem Kasuri and faculty members were also present at the meeting.

A joint study was conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) to investigate the “Maternal, Pregnancy and Neonatal outcomes for Women and Neonates infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Pakistan” in which Fatima Jinnah Medical University/ Sir Ganga Ram Hospital participated along with the Aga Khan University. Professor Shamsa Humayun served as the Principal Investigator and Professor Noreen Akmal, Professor Shamila Ijaz Munir and Dr. Riaz Hussain served as Co-investigators in this research on behalf of Fatima Jinnah Medical University.

At the outset of the event, Prof Shamsa Humayun briefed on the academic, research and medical services of Fatima Jinnah Medical College and Fatima Jinnah Medical University. She said it was a Multi-centre international study conducted in nine countries across the world in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Aga Khan University with four centres in Pakistan and Fatima Jinnah Medical University / Sir Ganga Ram Hospital identified from Punjab, which included vaccination data.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Khalid Masood Gondal said that we are very grateful to the delegation of the World Health Organization for providing facilitation in global research activities at Fatima Jinnah Medical University. He highlighted the achievements of Fatima Jinnah Medical University in August 2023. Fatima Jinnah Medical University is the only Medical University in Pakistan, where four new super specialties of gynaecology have been started. He further said that most of the international institutions, including Alumni Associations, are extending cooperation with Fatima Jinnah Medical University. Aga Khan Medical University and Fatima Jinnah Medical University are the best sites for training in the country. He thanked the delegation of World Health Organization and Aga Khan University for visiting the Fatima Jinnah Medical University.

Dr. Edna Kara from the World Health Organization (WHO) was very impressed with the Medical and Research Services of Fatima Jinnah Medical University. She said that this study will help us a lot in learning about new ideas and this data will be used for global knowledge. This study will help us to make policies regarding the efficacy of vaccinations and the Corona epidemic and we will be able to tell the world about the effects of various vaccinations on mother and child health. This will also help the World Health Organization to issue its recommendations and guidelines.

Dr. Sami Gottlieb from the World Health Organization (WHO) said that all the work in this research was done in a better way, which is a happy thing for me. I congratulate the entire team of Fatima Jinnah Medical University for making this research more comprehensive and successful. This valuable research will be of great help to other countries during the pandemic. In the end, she appreciated the excellent performance of the entire team of Fatima Jinnah Medical University. The Vice Chancellor informed the delegation that, in the light of the directions of Hon’ble Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi, efforts are underway to provide quality medical facilities at Fatima Jinnah Institute of Mother and Child Health.

The delegation visited the laboratory, blood bank, and ICU of Fatima Jinnah Institute of Mother and Child Health and paid tribute to deliver excellent medical facilities. They said that the Fatima Jinnah Institute of Mother and Child Health is a state-of-the-art institution where a large number of patients are provided the best free of cost health care facilities, which is not less than an International Hospital. In the end, they said that paperless environment would help in research collaboration in future.

It is pertinent to note that Fatima Jinnah Medical University is celebrating World Patient Safety Week from 17th to 23 September, as per vision of WHO.