Outreach Education

Outreach Education is an initiative for extending educational resources to individuals and groups aiming engaging communities outside the traditional educational settings to address the gaps and needs in accessing education. In 2022, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology undertook an initiative for providing training and education to underserved communities across the country under the leadership of Dr Lumaan Sheikh and Dr Shelina Bhamani. To this date, the team has collaborated with various government and private sector organizations for community development and education and is expanding the bandwidth to support the communities by and large.

“Outreach in women's health is crucial for improving maternal and neonatal outcomes, especially in underserved communities. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Aga Khan University has the expertise to provide technical support to institutions by building workforce capacity and strengthening healthcare systems. Through structured training programs, mentorship, and evidence-based interventions, AKU can enhance the quality of care delivered by healthcare providers. Collaborative partnerships will ensure sustainable improvements in maternal health services, bridging gaps in accessibility and quality. By leading capacity-building initiatives, AKU can play a transformative role in advancing women's healthcare across regions"

Dr. Lumaan Sheikh, Chairperson ObGyn

Team

Program Director Outreach Education

Dr. Shelina Bhamani holds a Doctorate in Education with specialization in ECD and Academic Program Planning. She has her core expertise in workforce and interest systems capacity development. Currently, she is the Program Director, Assistant Professor, and Lead ECD PREP in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She has pioneered the outreach program in the department and has many national projects on outreach education to her portfolio.

Senior Research Assistant, Outreach Education

Abdur Rehman is a Senior Research Assistant at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology joined in 2023 and is coordinating all outreach related activities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology & he has been actively engaged in community development and outreach. He has attained his specialization in academic program administration and advocacy.

Projects

JENABAI GYNAEONCOLOGY CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR GBC REGION (2025 and onwards)

For serving the community and capacity development in the Gilgit Baltistan and Chitral regions, JenaBai gynaeoncology capacity development program was conceptualized and presented to Mr. Abdulaziz Shariff on behalf of JenaBai Hussainali Shariff family on June 2024, who after thorough review agreed to collaborate with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology for continuing the legacy of initiating the program for capacity development of GBC region public sector clinical faculty under the mentorship ObGyn, AKU clinical faculty of in Gynaeoncology to provide quality cancer care services to women in the region.

JPMC CLINICAL SKILL BUILDING PROGRAM (2023 – 2024)

JPMC Clinical Skill Building Program was a collaborative venture of Department of ObGyn, Aga Khan University (AKU) and Department of ObGyn, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical College (JPMC) for providing training to senior faculty of ObGyn, JPMC under the mentorship of clinical faculty of ObGyn, AKU. Upon mutual understanding, MoU was signed on May 18th, 2023, between JPMC and AKU to formally inaugurate the program. The purpose was to enhance capacity of public sector faculty in three subspecialties Maternal Fetal Medicine, Urogynaecology and Gynaeoncology for improving maternal and women healthcare outcomes and enhance quality of care in public sector hospitals. Six faculty members from ObGyn, JPMC and twelve faculty members from ObGyn, AKU faculty were inducted in the program as mentees and mentors respectively for one year training program. After the successful completion of program in August 2024, certification ceremony was organized on October 26th, 2024, to certify the six JPMC ObGyn faculty members Dr Haleema Yasmin, Dr Saba Khan, Dr Memoona Rehman, Dr Omema Akhtar, Dr Mahrukh Hyder and Dr Erum Majid for participation in the program.

BHCIP CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (2023)

In 2022, the Government of Balochistan arranged a workshop for healthcare professionals in context with in-service training which was also attended by the faculty members of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aga Khan University (AKU). During the workhsop, the faculty identified gaps in the curriculum and proposed a revision of the curriculum upon which in June 2023, review and curriculum development consultancy was acquired and MoU was signed between Aga Khan University and Balochistan Human Capital Investment Project for lady medical officers, physicians and healthcare leaders. For accomplishing this goal, four workshops were conducted for developing and reviewing the prepared curriculum in collaboration with Division of Nursing Services, Aga Khan University Hospital. Upon successful completion of manuals, the curriculum handing over ceremony was organized on 26th – 27th October 2023 alongwith Leadership Workshop for Healthcare Professionals for BHCIP leadership working in various capacities for handing over the finalized curriculum to Balochistan Human Capital Investment Project.

BHCIP PHYSICIAN TRAINING (2022)

For collaboration and capacity development of public sector healthcare professionals, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aga Khan University organized training for the physicians serving in maternal and child health capacities in collaboration with Government of Balochistan on RMNACH in October 2022. Six senior physicians from Balochistan participated in this comprehensive training in which experts from ObGyn and other departments including Department of Anaesthesiology and Surgery were engaged to conduct the sessions on essential components of managing high risk maternal and child health issues.

BHCIP MEDICAL OFFICERS TRAINING (2022)

In July 2022, Balochistan Human Capital Investment Project conducted training for twenty-six medical officers working at different capacities of Balochistan in collaboration with Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aga Khan University on family planning for the management of maternal and child health issues. Two AKU faculty participated in the training and conducted sessions on various aspects on family planning and maternal health management.

ZINDAGI TRUST (2022)

In 2022 Zindagi Trust requested Dr Shelina Bhamani for providing verbal feedback on their Early Childhood Education (ECE) Lead training manual. Upon which formal agreement was established between Aga Khan University and Department of ObGyn to facilitate consultancy services with Dr Shelina Bhamani as a lead. This consultancy engagement was conducted from June 17 to July 7, 2022.