Maintaining a positive mental health and treating any mental health conditions is crucial to stabilizing constructive behaviors, emotions, and thoughts. Focusing on mental health care can increase productivity, enhance our self-image, and improve relationships. By making a concerted effort to spread mental health awareness, we can work to de-stigmatize how we think about, approach, and identify mental health issues in our society. For this purpose, NUMS Department of Public Health conducted an awareness session for BSPH Students on Importance of Mental Health held at the National University of Medical Sciences, PWD campus on Wednesday, 24 May 2023 at 11:00 hours, which is also in line with Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing).
Prof Brig(Retd) Naila Azam Head of Department Community Medicine, Foundation University Medical College was the guest speaker of the session. She is known for her extensive knowledge and vast experience in this field and addressing various aspects of Public Health issues. It was a very instructive and encouraging session, highlighting how essential it is to focus on mental health, as both mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health. She also emphasized on the importance of early diagnosis of mental health problems because poor mental health can lead to problems such as the inability to make adequate decisions, substance use disorders and can affect our thoughts, actions & interactions. Furthermore, she highlighted the importance of Public Health in the coming era and appreciated the efforts of BSPH Students for the community work they are doing for the wellness of Humanity.
The Head of the Department of Public Health Prof.Dr Uzma Hassan in her concluding remarks emphasized on importance of addressing the mental health issues to stay psychologically healthy and keeping up with educational and personal goals. She also discussed the significance of stress management, as it can be a vital aspect of student success, especially for busy students who are successful academically but managing to improve mental health outcomes. She congratulated the focal person of this event Dr. Raima Asif (Assistant Professor Public Health) for successfully organizing this session. She also appreciated the efforts of her faculty and students for organizing this valuable talk.
The HoD also expressed her gratefulness to honorable guest for taking out her precious time to grace the event with her presence and presented a certificate and Shield. At the end, she also appreciated the Digital Technologies Directorate, Administration Directorate, Public Affairs Directorate and Department of Student Affairs for providing conducive environment facilitating the successful conduction of this session.
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The National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) has become a member of the Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA). The GCHA was formed in Durban in 2011 to deal with climate change and to protect and promote public health. The Alliance was launched following the inaugural Climate and Health summit, which took place during the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The GCH Alliance comprises health and development organisations worldwide united by a shared vision of an equitable, safe, and sustainable future. The GCHA vision is a world in which the health impacts of climate change are kept to a minimum, and the health co-benefits of climate change mitigation are maximised.
https://climateandhealthalliance.org/about/members/
https://climateandhealthalliance.org/
The National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) has been invited to join the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education (GCCHE), a global network of health professional institutions and associations to train this and the next generation of health professionals in climate and planetary health!
The GCCHE was launched in 2017 and currently includes members from over 275 health professions schools of medicine, nursing, social work, and public health, representing 36 countries and three regional association members. It provides a platform for member institutions to collaborate, convene, and exchange ideas and tools to integrate training on the health impacts of climate change into their curricula. The GCCHE is a platform to organize, empower, and amplify the voice of health professionals to convey how climate change is harming our health and how climate solutions will improve it.
Dr Hina Shan, Assistant Professor of the Department of Public Health, NUMS, has been interviewed for the Climate Clinic -Code Red series, a podcast series by GCCHE.
An in-depth discussion regarding catastrophic flooding, climate crisis and the impediments from a Public Health perspective in Pakistan has been broadcasted by Columbia University. The link and overview to the podcast are shared below:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/cod-red-episode-1/id1643935712?i=1000581898184
Map of GCCHE Member Institutions | Columbia Public Health
https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/research/global-consortium-climate-and-health-education
NUMS Department of public health arranges multiple learning opportunities for the students of Bachelors of Public Health to have clear understanding of practical aspect of Public Health. A field visit was organized for the students as part of the Community Oriented Medical Education to Rural health Centre (RHC) Bagga Sheikhan Rawalpindi on 7th October from 0900 to 1400 hrs.
The objective of the visit was to orient students regarding health care delivery system network and its functioning. Another objective was to explain the general organizational structure and functioning of the Rural health Centers.
The Rural Health Center (RHC) is intended to increase access to primary care services for patients in rural communities. The RHC provides promotive, preventive, curative, diagnostics, inpatient services, medico-legal, dental, referral and ambulance services with 10-20 inpatients beds capacity over a catchment population of up to 100000 people.
Pre visit briefing facilitated by Huzaifa Akram (Asst.Prof Public Health) was given a day before the visit for the students about the functioning of RHC. Field training Performa comprising of different sections (Objectives, Activity Profile, human resource, supplies, services and HMIS) were also given to them to be filled during visit. All three batches of BSPH students accompanied by Dr Tamkeen Jaffry (Assoc.Prof), Dr Hina Shan (Asst.Prof), Huzaifa Akram (Asst.Prof) and Ms Rubab (Asst.Manager) from the department of Public Health were given a tour of the premises.
An initial briefing was delivered to students by Senior Medical Officer about responsibilities and health services provided by RHC. The students visited every section of the Rural Health Center and observed the different aspects of health care service delivery to the patients. Then students in the form of groups were given demonstration about functioning and working of different stations of RHC (emergency room, T.B dots facilitator room, population welfare centre, EPI room, homeopathic clinic, dispensary, laboratory, labour room and Operation Theater). Students got the opportunity to observe and understand the practical aspect of rural health Centers and hence the primary health care system in Pakistan. They observed services being provided by RHC include medical checkup of patients, immediate Trauma management, Surgical procedures, Medico legal case report, Antenatal checkup, Laboratory tests (anemia, malaria, pregnancy test, urine test for sugar & protein), Normal delivery, Family planning services, EPI vaccination, Immunization (TT), TB treatment (TB dots programme), Growth monitoring and Nutrition Counseling.
The Head of Department Public Health Prof.Dr Uzma Hassan congratulated and appreciated the team of Department of Public Health on their hard work and commendable job for the smooth conduction of such a significant field visit. The HoD stressed on the importance of field visit for students as it encourages them to be more productive and efficient.
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The NUMS Department of Public Health conducted a school and community-based awareness campaign promoting healthier people and planet, ‘ACT on NCDs: Healthy Habits and Climate Action for a Sustainable Planet’. The campaign highlighted the importance of healthy habits and clean air benefits to overall planetary health. The two-week awareness drive started on 15th August 2022, focussed to encourage healthy behaviours and influence norms across diverse social strata. The students of Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) shared their unique perspectives and messages about the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) linking it with climate change through pamphlet distribution in Urdu and English languages in the middle-aged population of PWD residential area. NCDs are affected by climate change, urbanization, food systems, and energy generation systems, action in these sectors will benefit not only the population but also planetary health. The key messages of the campaign encompassed: healthy diet (fresh natural foods); regular physical exercise and maintain a healthy weight; reduce sugary drinks, saturated fats and salt intake; don’t smoke; plant trees; save energy and use eco-friendly products; reduce, reuse, repair and recycle. The students used multiple awareness-raising strategies, methods, and tools to promote health and to influence public opinion.
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) have implications for nutrition, education, and the environment; therefore, a greater action is needed from governments and communities to prevent them from becoming epidemics. Children, adults, and the elderly all are vulnerable to the risk factors contributing to NCDs, whether from unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, exposure to tobacco smoke, the harmful use of alcohol or climate change. NCDs are a barrier to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reducing the NCD burden and working towards sustainable cities create opportunities to achieve the following SDGs: SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 11, SDG 12, SDG 13, SDG14, and SDG 15.
The students’ awareness drive in the local schools of Rawalpindi started from, ‘Benchmark School System’ followed by ‘Future World School System’ under the supervision of Dr.Hina Shan, Assistant Professor, DPH and students; Miss Iffa Zahid & Mr. Waleed Sheikh (focal persons). Latest statistics on NCDs and its link with climate change, risk factors, and preventive measures were shared by the following BSPH students; Waleed Sheikh, Iffa Zahid, Hasnain Sabir, Shalina Mazhar, Fatima Saleem, Shahaan Chughtai, , Aimen Adnan, Shiza Aftab and Daniyal Ahmed. Students also disseminated information about the SDGs to build ownership of the 2030 Agenda. School children actively participated in the campaign with interactive session involving games around NCDs and SDGs, #FlipTheSrcipt and #ACT4SDGs. Miss Iffa Zahid and Shiza Aftab shared messages on NCDs as ‘Voices of Change’ for NCD Alliance’s Platform.
The Head of the Department, Prof Dr. Uzma Hassan stressed on the need to improve individual well-being with lifestyle modifications, highlighting that behaviors that lead to NCDs often emerge during childhood. She congratulated the DPH team (Dr. Tamkeen Jaffry, Dr. Hina Shan, Dr. Raima Asif, Miss Rubab Zulfiqar and students) for enhancing NUMS mission by conducting a successful campaign.
Social Media Link 1: Click Here
Social Media Link2 : Click Here
Social Media Link 3 : Click Here
Act on NCDs Link 1: Click Here
Act on NCDs Link 2: Click Here
National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) is now a Network Member of Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Alliance. The NCD Alliance (NCDA) is a robust global network of more than 2,000 organizations in 170 countries including global and national NGOs, scientific and professional associations, academic and research institutions. In May 2017, the NCD Alliance transitioned to become a full-fledged NGO, based in Switzerland. NCDA maintains strategic relations with the World Health Organization, UN and governments, staff in Geneva, London, and New York, putting it at the forefront of elevating Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) onto the global health and development agenda. Our Views, Our Voice is an Initiative by the NCD Alliance and People Living with Non-Communicable diseases. NUMS vision is already aligned with fundamental principles of the Global Charter and meaningfully involvement of people living with NCDs. NUMS is committed to involve people living with NCDs and encourage others to do the same. NUMS is listed in NCDA Membership Directory, use the links to find out more:
NCD Alliance Network | NCD Alliance
Wall of Endorsers | Our Views, Our Voices (ourviewsourvoices.org)
The global epidemic of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) is widely acknowledged as a major development challenge in the 21st century, and a significant threat to achieving internationally agreed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By having NCD Alliance Membership, NUMS will have access to various platforms for deeper engagement between partners/allies working on similar themes and challenges of NCDs. Addressing NCDs and its risk factors will help Pakistan progress across the three pillars of sustainable development i.e., economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection.
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Protecting nature, protecting our health.
National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) has joined the Planetary Health Alliance (PHA), a consortium of over 200 universities, non-governmental organizations, research institutes, and government entities from around the world committed to understanding and addressing global environmental change and its health impacts.
We can no longer ignore the human-caused disruptions of our natural environment. We can no longer ignore the impacts that global environmental change has on our health, with globally increasing diseases, heat-related mortality, mental health risks, and decreasing nutrition affecting communities worldwide. These challenges provide opportunities for cross-disciplinary action. NUMS is proud to be a member of @ph_alliance, being a member of the PHA represents our commitment to collaboration on some of the most urgent challenges of our time.
Learn more about planetary health science, solutions, and ways to get involved http://planetaryhealthalliance.org/subscribe
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NUMS Department of Public Health organized a field visit for the students of BSPH as part of their Community Oriented Medical Education to National Institute of Health Islamabad (NIH) on 12th May from 1000 to 1500 hrs. The aim of this visit was to show the students the general functions and responsibilities of NIH, as well as to show them the biomedical equipment functioning of the institute currently.
NIH is one of the most prestigious institutions of the country established in 1980 by Ministry of Health (MOH). This institution is involved in multi-disciplinary Public Health related activities like diagnostic services, research and production of various vaccines making its mission to improve the health infrastructure of Pakistan. The institute is actively involved in the laboratory and field investigation of infectious diseases including the etiology and epidemiology.
Pre visit briefing session facilitated by Dr Raima Asif (Asst.Prof Public Health) was held a day before visit for the students in which HoD Public Health discussed the functioning and divisions of NIH. Field training proforma comprising of different sections (Objectives, Activity Profile and Public Health Impact) were also given to them to be filled during visit .All three batches of BSPH students accompanied by Dr Tamkeen Jaffry (Assoc.Prof) , Dr Hina Shan (Asst.Prof) and Ms Rubab (Assistant Manager) from the department of Public Health were given a tour of the premises.
This included the Emergency Operations Centre, Biological Production Division, Public Health Laboratories and Drugs Control and Traditional Medicines Division. An initial briefing was delivered to students in Surveillance and Response section by the unit In-charge about the role of NIH. Then, the students in the form of groups were given a demonstration about functioning and working of different diagnostic labs (chemical pathology, Histo-pathology, cytology, Genetics and hematology). In addition, all the steps of waste management were discussed with the students. After this, they visited the Biological Production section where they observed the process of production and manufacturing of vaccines and anti-sera. Biological Production Division is the sole producer of life saving vaccines and anti-sera for immunization and therapeutic use to control the communicable diseases in the country. At the end , HVAC system of ventilation was shown to them. HVAC ( Humidifying, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system) an effective system for ventilation, where temperature, humidity and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) can be regulated and maintained were shown to them.
The Head of Department Public Health Prof.Dr Uzma Hassan congratulated and appreciated her team of Department of Public Health on their hard work and commendable job for the smooth conduction of such a significant field visit. The HoD stressed on the importance of field visit for students as it encourages them to be more productive and efficient.
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