The Department of
Community Health Sciences (CHS), Aga Khan University
(AKU) has an active programme of Research and Development
(R&D). Research can be
defined as creative work undertaken on a systematic
basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge,
including knowledge of humanity, culture and society,
while development may be considered as a result of
some earlier research activity and aim to improve the
quality of life of disadvantaged sections of the community.
The CHS research and development strategy promotes
a culture of all faculty and students contributing
to R&D activities, and emphasises field based PHC
research in urban and rural settings with particular
attention to Reproductive Health. CHS aims to build
new capacity (clinical epidemiology and environmental
health) and promote collaborations both within AKU
and externally. In 2004/2005 CHS was leading in over
30 active R&D projects, and collaborating on a
variety of others. Funding came from various sources,
both internal from AKU and from national and international
donors.
The current portfolio of research and development activities
within CHS address the ten key areas identified by the
Ministry of Health of the Government of Pakistan at the
National Health Conference held in Islamabad on August
10, 2004. These are detailed below.
