The Aga Khan University (AKU) announced the successful completion of its five-year “Foundations for Health and Empowerment” program, aimed at improving maternal, child, and adolescent health in five countries, including Pakistan. This comprehensive research project has provided key recommendations for improving health systems in these regions.
The program, supported by Global Affairs Canada and the Aga Khan Foundation Canada, was a multi-country initiative in Afghanistan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. It provided important insights into newborn well-being as well as parental mental and physical health.
Dr. Anjum Halai, Vice Provost for Asia and UK, Aga Khan University, highlighted the integration of research and development in the program, emphasizing their interconnectedness. She stressed that the research framework, characterized by passion, collaboration, purpose, and publication, played a crucial role in knowledge creation and its dissemination.
In Pakistan, the project, led by distinguished AKU faculty with support from the Aga Khan Development Network, addressed key issues such as maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health, mental health, cancer, and digital health, particularly in resource-constrained areas like Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral.
The program also enhanced early childhood development efforts, laying the foundation for lifelong well-being by incorporating health, nutrition, and psychosocial care. Some research components extended to Afghanistan, increasing understanding of digital health systems and early childhood development across national boundaries.
A concluding seminar included experts from various research areas who shared their findings and recommendations for advancing Pakistan’s health system. The seminar highlighted issues such as high-risk pregnancies, cervical cancer screening, and access to digital health, emphasizing the importance of integrated approaches.
Speaking at the seminar, Professor Dr. Sajid Soofi, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, commented on the F4HE project’s commitment to gender equality, health, and civil society engagement. The project supports research and innovation to promote policies that nurture equitable health systems, especially in underserved and remote areas.