Accord signed to boost capacity of health professionals

LAHORE:The University of Health Sciences (UHS), Directorate General Health Services Punjab, and UNICEF Punjab have reached an agreement to collaborate on a project aimed at nutrition-specific curricular reforms and capacity development for healthcare professionals in the province on Tuesday.

A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed soon to solidify the partnership. During a meeting at UHS, Vice Chancellor Prof Ahsan Waheed Rathore, UNICEF Punjab’s Nutrition Specialist Ms Najma Ayub, DG Health Services Nutrition Consultant Ihtisham ul Haq, Pro Vice Chancellor UHS Prof Nadia Naseem, Director Medical Education Dr Khalid Rahim Khan, and senior faculty members discussed the project’s framework. They emphasized the urgent need to address malnutrition in Punjab, where more than 36 percent of children under five are stunted, and poor feeding practices significantly impact maternal and child health. Additionally, Early Childhood Development (ECD) training will be integrated into the initiative. The training component will consist of a series of workshops, seminars, and hands-on sessions in six major cities of Punjab. UHS Medical Education Director, Dr Khalid Rahim said the project is expected to significantly enhance the province's healthcare system.