UHS VC, Canadian varsity team discuss collaboration

LAHORE : A four-member delegation from the University of Manitoba (UM), Canada, met with University of Health Sciences (UHS) Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Nadia Naseem on Monday.

The delegation, led by Prof James Blanchard, Executive Director of UM Institute of Global Public Health (IGPH), discussed potential collaborations in areas such as training health professionals, infectious disease control, diagnostic lab services, academic support, and joint research programmes.

Other members included IGPN Associate Director, Dr Faran Emmanual, Director Finance and Administration, Ms Doris Kuzma and UM country coordinator Dr Tahira Ezra Reza.

Prof Blanchard underscored Canada's dedication to global public health, specifically in Pakistan. He highlighted key areas of partnership with the UHS.

These include intensive training programmes for public health leaders through UHS, leveraging UM's International Diagnostic Lab to develop new diagnostics for infectious diseases in Punjab, providing technical support to academic programs at UHS, and initiating joint research ventures and degree programmes.

Two pivotal areas of partnership were proposed by Prof Blanchard, focusing on technical support and capacity building, including mentorship, for district health administrative staff in Punjab. This would specifically target data-driven decision-making, with a special emphasis on reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH). The second proposal highlighted Punjab epidemic appraisal studies to better understand the transmission of infectious diseases and optimise control programmes.

Expressing keen interest, UHS Pro-VC Prof. Nadia Naseem emphasised the need for academic mentoring to enhance healthcare at the district level in Punjab, with a focus on evidence-based and community-driven programmes. She also stressed the necessity of a proper digital data registry for research purposes and the provision of primary healthcare facilities for the urban poor.