KARACHI: Jinnah Sindh Medical University’s Institute of Family Medicine (IFM-JSMU) and Pink Pakistan Trust (PPT) Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with an aim to upgrade the governmental Basic Health Units (BHUs) for providing primary healthcare facilities.
PPT President Dr Zubaida Qazi, and JSMU Vice Chancellor (VC) Professor Syed Muhammad Tariq Rafi have signed the MoU, said a news release.
The MoU signing ceremony was held at the VC’s Office where Iqra University VC Dr Wasim Qazi, was invited as the guest of honour.
The agreement was signed in view of Pakistan’s need to strengthen the infrastructure of BHUs and provide vocational training to the general practitioners to enhance community resilience by offering CME sessions, CPD courses and enhancing community resilience for primary healthcare.
Speaking on the occasion, VC Professor S M Tariq Rafi appreciated the step taken by the IFM Head of Department Professor Marie Andrades and the team in cementing the alliance with PPT, and assured them of full support from JSMU in its implementation.
Acknowledging the efforts of IFM-JSMU in bringing the idea into fruition, he urged the panel to motivate more female practitioner drop outs to join this initiative.
The MoU between IFM-JSMU and PPT was signed in the presence of Trustees from PPT Ibrahim Sajid Malik, executive director and Mufarrah Malick, volunteer.
Dr Zubaida Qazi also spoke on the occasion, and highlighted her respective organisations’ contributions to the mitigation of primary healthcare issues.
She remarked that the recent Covid-19 pandemic had further highlighted the need for reducing the burden from tertiary hospitals and re-establishing the governmental BHUs in remote areas of the city.
She also pointed out the importance of the private sector stepping forward and initiating data collection activities in collaboration with the government, so as to contribute to the international researches and provide stewardship by addressing the basic healthcare concerns within their boundaries.
Principal SMC-JSMU Professor Sarwar Qureshi, Registrar Dr Azam Khan, Chairperson APPNA Institute of Public Health Professor Lubna Ansari Baig, Associate Professor IFM-JSMU Dr Tabinda, Assistant Professors Dr Aisha Ambreen, Dr Fauzia Akhtar and Lecturers Dr Sadaf Badiuzzaman, Dr Kiran Zeeshan and Dr Tayyaba were present on the occasion.