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AKU Seminar
on Maternal and Child Health
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Research Can Influence Policy Making: Saeeda Malik
To improve health standards and reduce mortality, it has become imperative
to understand the various dimensions and determinants of maternal
and child health (MCH) in Pakistan. Only then will it be possible
to set priorities, allocate resources efficiently, and implement effective
intervention and control measures. This was stated by Dr Saeeda Malik,
Minister for Women's Development, Government of Sindh, at a seminar
on maternal and child health research and training in Pakistan, organised
by Aga Khan University (AKU), Karachi on October 15, 2004.
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| Chief
guest Dr Saeeda Malik, Minister for Women’s Development,
Government of Sindh. |
"Health research in Pakistan is in its infancy and is mostly undertaken
by private organisations or individuals without much institutional
support," noted Dr Malik. Highlighting the crucial link between health
research and decision making, Dr Malik noted that policy making is
affected by multiple competitive forces, and research is one of them.
"In this context, research focusing on national health priorities,
health systems, and major causes of maternal and child mortality and
morbidity can provide the information required for policy making," she observed, stressing the importance of information on social determinants
and economic evaluation of health intervention.
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| Prof.
Dr. Mohammad Khurshid, Dean, Aga Khan University Medical College. |
AKU recognises that the endemic problems of a region beset by financial
difficulties can be addressed only through relevant research focusing
on producing low-cost, accessible and innovative solutions.
Dr Fauziah Rabbani, Acting Chair of the Department of Community Health
Sciences, AKU, introduced the scope of the International Maternal
and Child Health Research Training (IMCHRT) programme, a collaboration
between AKU and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA, as part
of the Global Network for Women's and Children's Health. "This programme
is intended to strengthen and sustain, through collaborative research
and training, the capability of scientists in this country to address
biomedical and behavioural research issues which contribute to the
poor health status of Pakistani mothers and children," said Dr Rabbani.
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| Participants
at the AKU seminar on maternal and child health. |
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Imtiaz Jehan, IMCHRT Programme Director
at AKU, revealed that "several training and capacity building options
have been defined, such as a research trainees programme, start-up
research funds for trainees, sponsorship initiatives and thematic
training workshops. These endeavours will extend and support IMCHRT," she said.
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| Dr.
Imtiaz Jehan, Programme Director, IMCHRT, CHS. (Seated L to
R): Dr. Tasleem Akhtar, Executive Director (Rtd) PMRC, Prof.
Dr. Mohammad Khurshid, Dean, Aga Khan University Medical College;
Dr Saeeda Malik, Minister for Women’s Development, Government
of Sindh; Dr. David Taylor, Acting Provost, Aga Khan University,
Dr. Fauziah Rabbani, Acting Chair, CHS. |
Dr Tasleem Akhtar, former executive director of Pakistan Medical and
Research Council, presented a situation analysis of health research
capacity in Pakistan since independence, pointing out that infrastructure
development, enhanced financial allocation for research and increased
collaboration at both national and international levels should be
seen as positive developments. She added, however, that lack of critical
mass research, low quality and low level of research output or knowledge
generation, and absence of a research environment and culture continue
to be a problem. Dr Akhtar also lamented the lack of a health research
policy and failure of various institutions and organisations to develop
coordination, collaboration and linkages, even within their own sectors.
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