The Department of Public Health (DPH) at the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), in collaboration with Firefly NGO, successfully organized an event titled "Mental Health: Echoes of Awareness" on December 24, 2024. The event aimed to highlight the importance of mental health, promote well-being, and foster dialogue on students' mental health-related challenges.

Over the past two years, the partnership between DPH and Firefly has spearheaded several activities, including mental health awareness sessions, community outreach programs, and unique initiatives such as caring for animals to promote emotional well-being. The event spotlighted continuous efforts to raise awareness of critical issues like mental health stigma, child abuse, sexism, and harassment.

This event is aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically, SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for people of all ages, and SDG 4, which focuses on providing inclusive and equitable education and lifelong learning opportunities for everyone. By fostering an inclusive environment for discussion and awareness, the collaborative event contributed to the broader goal of creating a healthier and more compassionate society.

The program began with a spiritual recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by the National Anthem. The organizers welcomed all attendees, including distinguished guests, faculty, staff members, and students. They emphasized the collaborative efforts between NUMS and Firefly NGO, particularly highlighting the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in October 2022, which paved the way for impactful initiatives focused on mental health.

The event culminated with a talk by Mr. Muhammad Hamza Suhail, Founder and Chairman of Firefly NGO, who shared valuable insights and reiterated the importance of proactive efforts to destigmatize mental health issues. The guest speaker encouraged open dialogue and self-expression among participants.

In her concluding remarks, Dr Tamkeen Jaffry (Associate Professor of Public Health) acknowledged the contribution of Lecturer DPH Rubab Zulfiqar and Office Assistant Zeeshan Hussain in organizing the event. She praised the students for the successful execution of the event, emphasizing the critical role of these initiatives in addressing societal challenges and promoting mental health awareness. She stressed that such activities should continue in the future to achieve collaboration objectives.

The NUMS Department of Public Health actively provides practical learning experiences for Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) students. The department organized a field visit to the Water Filtration Plant in Islamabad on January 8, 2024, from 0900 to 1400 hours to support this mission.

The visit aimed to acquaint students with the water filtration process and its essential role in public health. Another key objective was to familiarize students with water filtration plants' operational framework and organizational structure. This visit aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all, and SDG 3, which focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.

Water filtration plants are critical to provide the population with clean and safe drinking water. These plants perform multiple functions to produce potable water, including water intake, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection. The plant visited serves a substantial population, ensuring residents can access safe drinking water.

Dr. Raima Asif (Assistant Professor), Dr. Rubab Zulfiqar (Lecturer), and Dr. Nasir Javed (Lecturer) from the Department of Public Health accompanied and guided all four batches of BSPH students through the plant's facilities.

Upon arrival, the plant manager gave students an initial briefing outlining the plant's responsibilities and the water purification services it provides. Then, students toured various sections of the plant, including the intake area, sedimentation tanks, filtration units, and disinfection chambers. Each section's processes were demonstrated to the students, providing a comprehensive view of the plant's operations.

Students explored the critical stages of water filtration, starting with raw water intake from natural sources, then sedimentation, where large particles settle out, and filtration, which uses sand and carbon filters to remove minor impurities. Disinfection then eliminates harmful pathogens through chlorine or other agents. The process concludes with quality control, involving continuous monitoring to ensure the water meets health standards.

The Head of the Department of Public Health, Prof. Dr. Uzma Hassan, praised the team for their diligent efforts in organizing the field visit. She emphasized the importance of such practical experiences in enhancing students' understanding of public health infrastructure and encouraging them to apply their knowledge effectively in real-world settings.

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Burden of disease simply demonstrates the impact of diseases and risk factors in a population. On the other hand, the study of Global Burden of Disease (GBD) offers a helpful resource to understand the constantly changing health challenges faced by people across the globe in the 21^st century. In fact, GBD study is the largest and an all-encompassing effort to measure health loss across various geographical locations and over time, thereby improving health systems and eliminating disparities in the long run.

To assess the health of various populations around the world and to get an overview of their health factors such as life expectancy, fertility, and causes of death, NCL and NDPH joined forces for an outreach undertaking to paint a comprehensive picture of what kills and disables people across countries, time, ages, and sexes for the students of NUMS and Islamabad Medical and Dental College (IMDC).

The beneficial training aim of NCL and NDPH prolifically materialized from 20^th to 22^nd August 2024 as a rewarding three-day workshop on ‘Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Modelling’. The said workshop, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Uzma Hassan, was facilitated by Dr. Tamkeen Nishat Jaffry (Assoc. Prof., NDPH), Dr. Raima Asif (Asst. Prof., NDPH), and Ms. Rubab Zulfiqar (Lecturer, NDPH). It was conducted from 1000 hrs to 1400 hrs in the Seminar Room (NUMS PWD Campus). All in all, the training sessions were eagerly attended by around 60 students from NUMS and Islamabad Medical and Dental College (IMDC).

The sessions effectively equipped the participating students with fundamental knowledge and essential skills in data analysis and healthcare planning. While Dr. Tamkeen Nishat Jaffry emphasized that GBD estimation can be reliable only if it happens with international collaboration; Dr. Raima Asif and Ms. Rubab Zulfiqar kept the audience engaged by diving into the practical side of the training, and explained how modern tools allow decision-makers to compare the effects of different diseases, injuries, and risk factors in order to prioritize interventions for improving health and saving lives.

In order to ensure educational impartiality, UDO (NUMS) worked alongside the resource persons and program coordinators of NDPH to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion practices were conscientiously executed throughout the sessions. The three-day event came to an end with a Vote of Thanks by Prof. Dr. Uzma Hassan (HoD, NDPH), Concluding Remarks by Air Cdre Muhammad Ismail, SI (M), Retd (Consultant QA / Head of NCL & RD Dte, NUMS), and Certificate Distribution Ceremony by the Chief Guest, Prof. Dr. Aisha Mohyuddin (Dean Multidisciplinary Sciences, NUMS).

This training workshop by NCL, in collaboration with NDPH, was undertaken in reference to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

The Department of Public Health established Student Organizing Committees to develop leadership qualities, instill a sense of responsibility, and engage students in health-promoting activities by organizing health-related events and awareness campaigns. The first committees were formed for the 2023-2024 academic year. As senior students graduated and new cohorts arrived, new committees were established for 2024-2025 to ensure the smooth continuation of ongoing activities.

A Badge Distribution Ceremony was held on Thursday, May 30th, 2024, to acknowledge the efforts of appointment holders.  The chief guest was Prof. Dr. Uzma Hassan, Head of the Department of Public Health. Faculty members and BSPH students of all batches attended the event. Prof. Dr. Uzma Hassan recognized the outstanding contributions of students by awarding badges. Following is the list of badge holders for their respective appointments.

President: Husnain Sabir (Semester 2)

Vice President: Hamda Noor (Semester 3)

Entertainment Committee:

• Coordinator: Hadiqa Mughal (Semester 5)
• Secretaries: Eman Fatima (Semester 5), Ayesha Liaquat (Semester 5)
• Members: Ansab Ur Rehman (Semester 1), Mishal Ali Malik (Semester 1), Yumna Sajid (Semester 5), Azka Zahoor (Semester 5)

Art and Media Committee:

• Coordinator: Fatima Saleem (Semester 7)
• Secretaries: Aiza Saleem (Semester 3), Mishal Hayat (Semester 3)
• Members: Eisha Khalid, Zara Ali, Zainab Noor, Natasha

Literary Committee:

• Coordinator: Salwa Manzoor (Semester 5)
• Secretaries: Ayesha Liaqat (Semester 5), Dua Masood (Semester 5)
• Members: Zahra Batool (Semester 3), Zaina Us Sama (Semester 3), Attique Afzal (Semester 3), Sameeka Ali (Semester 3)

Event Management Committee:

• Coordinator: Waleed Qaiser (Semester 7)
• Secretaries: Maha Amin, Rabiya Abid, Sofia Naseem
• Members: Aimen Adnan, Huzaifa Bilal, Malaika Yamin, Hareem Sadiq

Prof. Dr. Uzma Hassan appreciated Associate Professor Dr. Tamkeen Jaffry for the successful execution of the plan and thanked the DPH faculty for guiding and supporting the students. She also admired the dedication of the committees and expects them to continue performing with the same devotion in the future.

Thyroid Awareness Week, held annually, plays a crucial role in raising awareness about thyroid health and its impact on overall well-being, directly supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education). This year theme was “Thyroid Diseases are Non-Communicable Diseases”. The NUMS Department of Public Health celebrated Thyroid Awareness Week 2024 in conjunction with ongoing activities of the Thyroid Federation International from May 25th to May 31st, 2024. The week featured a variety of engaging activities aimed at raising awareness about thyroid health.

NUMS BSPH students designed brochures in both English and Urdu, catering to a diverse audience. These brochures highlighted essential information about thyroid disorders, symptoms, and healthy practices for care and control of the diseases. Distributed from May 25th to 28th, they reached Heads of Departments, Directors, Faculty, and Staff. An awareness session was also conducted for NUMS staff members to emphasize the importance of a healthy lifestyle for the prevention and control of thyroid disorders.

A key highlight of the awareness week was a seminar held on May 30th. The event commenced with a welcome note by BSPH Students, followed by a presentation on the importance of thyroid awareness by students of Batch 5. Video presentations by Batch II and Batch V effectively disseminated vital information to a broad audience, enhancing understanding and engagement. Students from Batch III presented a compelling role-play, effectively highlighting critical concerns related to thyroid health awareness in a thought-provoking manner. The event also featured an impressive exhibition of e-posters designed by students from all batches, showcasing their research and findings on thyroid health. Adding an interactive element to the day was a lively trivia quiz, engaging the audience and testing their knowledge on thyroid-related topics. The event concluded with a professionally produced video showcasing the week-long activities.

The chief guest, Professor Dr. Uzma Hassan, Head of the Department of Public Health, in her closing remarks, emphasized the importance of such initiatives in promoting public health awareness. She congratulated the students for their dedication and successful management of various aspects of the event, ensuring its success. She also commended the efforts of the DPH faculty for organizing such a remarkable event and congratulated the focal persons, Dr. Tamkeen Jaffry (Associate Professor Public Health) and Ms. Rubab Zulfiqar (Lecturer Public Health), for their contributions.

Overall, the Thyroid Awareness Week 2024 event at NUMS was a resounding success, fostering greater understanding and awareness of thyroid health among students and the broader community.

The NUMS Department of Public Health and NUMS Office of International Collaboration, in collaboration with the University of Glasgow UK, organized a virtual seminar on the theme "Potential impacts of climate change on malaria vector control" on Friday, 8th March 2024 from 1500 - 1600 hrs. The seminar aimed to explore the effects of climate change on malaria vector control strategies and discuss innovative approaches to mitigate these impacts.

Dr. Nasir Javed moderated the session attended by faculty members, including the Head of Department, Dr. Uzma Hassan, and Dr. Nasir Javed. Mr Nadeem Akbar, the deputy director of the NUMS Office of International Collaboration, also graced the event. Over 50 NUMS participants joined the webinar.

Dr. Heather Ferguson, the esteemed Professional from the Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Glasgow UK, was honored by gracing the virtual session as a Guest Speaker to provide valuable insight to our students and faculty. Dr Azra Meadows from the University of Glasgow UK also embellished the event with her insightful comments. Dr. Heather Ferguson provided an overview of the current malaria burden and emphasized the complex interplay between climate change and malaria transmission dynamics.

Participants had the opportunity to engage with the speakers through an interactive Q&A session. The session fostered a rich exchange of ideas and highlighted the collective commitment to tackling the malaria challenge in a changing climate.

The webinar ended with closing remarks from Prof Dr Uzma Hassan, emphasizing the need for a coordinated global response to climate change and malaria. Mr. Nadeem Akbar thanked Dr. Heather Ferguson & Dr Azra Meadows for their contributions and the participants' engagement.

The NUMS Department of Public Health (NDPH) organized an orientation session on February 19th, 2024, to welcome the 5th Batch of Bachelor of Science Public Health (BSPH) students. Department of Public Health aims to create a health workforce capable of generating health awareness and health promotion by adopting an innovative and community-based learning approach.

The session briefly introduced the University and the Department of Public Health. It was attended by both students and faculty members of the Department, including Head of Department Professor Dr. Uzma Hassan, Associate Professor Dr. Tamkeen Jaffry, Assistant Professors Dr. Hina Shan and Dr. Raima Asif, as well as Lecturers Ms. Rubab Zulfiqar and Dr. Nasir Javed.

Dr. Nasir Javed, Lecturer in Public Health, moderated the session, beginning with an overview of NUMS's mission, followed by a welcome address from Professor Dr. Uzma Hassan, Head of the Department of Public Health. Professor Hassan congratulated the students on their selection and reaffirmed NUMS's commitment to fostering scientific inquiry through education and skill-based training. The Department of Public Health faculty introduced themselves, briefed the students on academic policies, and showcased events and the BSPH program at NUMS.

The new students introduced themselves and discussed their public health interests and reasons for joining NUMS. They asked questions about the program and career prospects. The session ended with a thank you note and refreshments, followed by a tour of the academic block. The educational session started on February 20th, 2024.

The NUMS Department of Public Health, in collaboration with Integrated Health Services (IHS), organized a week-long School Health Services certificate course for a dedicated group of BSPH students. This initiative was inspired by the memorandum between IHS and NUMS, emphasizing practical education and community wellbeing.

Following the course, students conducted awareness sessions at educational institutes, focusing on creating a healthier community. On December 4, 2023, a comprehensive visual acuity screening and awareness program occurred at Roots International School, PWD Rawalpindi. This initiative aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health & Wellbeing) and 10 (Reduced Inequality).

The session began with informative posters and charts to captivate students' attention, covering topics like maintaining optimal eye health, healthy diets, and eye exercises. A screening process identified potential vision problems, with interactive games like darts and a visual memory game enhancing the educational experience.

The overarching goal was to raise awareness about visual acuity, empowering students with practical knowledge and habits for eye health. Dr. Tamkeen Nishat Jaffry and Ms. Rubab Zulfiqar coordinated the activity, with students from BSPH Batch 3 and Batch 4 participating. Prof. Dr. Uzma Hassan, the head of the Department, praised the initiative, encouraging students to persist in contributing to a more educated and healthier community through informed choices. The school administration also appreciated the informative and engaging session on this critical aspect of health.

Reproductive Health Hygiene is a fundamental aspect of overall well-being, particularly among adolescent girls who are at a crucial stage of physical and emotional development. The importance of addressing reproductive health hygiene in schools cannot be overstated, as it plays a pivotal role in shaping the future health and happiness of young individuals. The transition from childhood to adolescence is marked by significant changes in the body, and providing education and guidance on reproductive health hygiene at this stage is essential to empower girls with the knowledge and skills necessary for maintaining good health.

In accordance to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), NUMS Department of Public Health conducted an awareness session promoting Reproductive Health Hygiene among adolescent girls at Federal Government College of Home Economics and Management Sciences F-11/1 Islamabad on Wednesday 08 November 2023.

This session plays a crucial role in empowering young girls with essential knowledge and the transformative changes occurring during puberty, developing a sense of confidence and control. Moreover, a comprehensive understanding of reproductive health hygiene is instrumental in preventing a spectrum of health issues, from infections to unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Addressing these aspects in a supportive and educational environment not only contributes to psychosocial well-being by reducing stigma and promoting a positive self-image but also ensures educational continuity. Lack of awareness can lead to disruptions in education, as girls may miss school days due to menstrual hygiene-related discomfort.

Dr Raima Asif (Assistant Professor Public Health) moderated the session along with Noor Ul Ain Shah, Fizza Javed and Saarma Saleem (Batch 1 Students). The event started with a brief introduction of the subject followed by distribution of a questionnaire assessing the existing knowledge regarding the reproductive health hygiene. This was followed by a video presentation highlighting the importance of maintaining the menstrual hygiene as the habits and knowledge cultivated during adolescence form the bedrock for lifelong health practices. In the end a PowerPoint presentation was given to the students, providing education, fostering awareness, and promoting positive attitudes towards reproductive health.

The College administration appreciated and acknowledged the efforts of the faculty and students of NUMS Department of Public Health for conducting such an interactive session on an important health issue.

The Head of the Department, Prof. Dr. Uzma Hassan, appreciated the initiative taken by NUMS Department of Public Health. She also stressed on the importance of such sessions as they go beyond the classroom, extending to the overall well-being and empowerment of adolescent girls.

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