Islamabad:Dr. Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital (ANTH) developed first of its kind collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) by organising a three-day training on National Guidelines for Small and Sick Newborns in the hospital at 17 Meel, Main Murree Road, Bhara Kahu, Islamabad, in close collaboration with the Pakistan Pediatric Association (PPA) and Neonatal Group, says a press release.
This collaborative effort also had involvement of Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Government of Pakistan; World Health Organization (WHO); and representatives from all provincial governments of Pakistan.
The training had a launch ceremony on the first day and it was attended by various esteemed dignitaries. CEO ANTH Yasir Khan Niazi, Director ANTH Col. (R) Dr. Ghulam Mujtaba Abbasi, Principal Islamabad Medical & Dental College (IMDC) Prof. Dr. Syed Irfan Ahmed, and Head of Department Pediatrics at ANTH Prof. Dr. Rubina Zulfiqar extended warm reception to the Chief Guest, Former Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health, Dr. Zafar Mirza, and other notables including Deputy Representative UNICEF Dr. Inoussa Kabore, District Health Officer Islamabad Dr. Zaeem Zia, Health Specialist at UNICEF Dr. Samia Rizwan, Islamabad Regulatory Health Authority (IHRA) CEO Dr. Quaid Saeed, and World Health Organization’s Dr. Qudsia Uzma.
The objective of this training was to engage the private sector and promote public-private partnership for sharing knowledge to save newborns. More than 50 participants from ANTH and various other private and public hospitals attended training led by Prof. Dr Irfan Waheed. Dr. Zafar Mirza highlighted that it is alarming that the number of newborn deaths in Pakistan is 42 per 1000 live births. In the face of such distressing numbers, initiatives like this training create hope that relevant stakeholders are on the right track to meet national commitments to reduce these numbers.