One of the most important aspects of overall health of an individual is a good nutritional status. One of the most crucial factors influencing an individual's overall health is maintaining a good nutritional status. Consequently, the significance of nutrition education and awareness cannot be overstated in terms of sensitizing the community to healthy eating habits and adopting a healthier lifestyle. Generally, there is a limited understanding of nutrition and health-related knowledge among the masses in Pakistan. Therefore, it is imperative to raise awareness about the importance of a balanced diet, physical activity, stress reduction, and sleep quality.

With this in mind, Dr. Abdul Momin, Assistant Professor at the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, NUMS, conducted three distinct nutrition awareness and community outreach sessions at Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited (MMBL), F-8, Islamabad. Two of these sessions were centered around the topic "Healthy Lifestyle in the Corporate World – Is it Possible?" and were attended by more than 90 MMBL employees each.

The third session, tailored specifically to meet the needs of the janitorial staff, took place at MMBL, Koral Head Office, Judicial Colony, Islamabad. Titled "Budget-Friendly Meal Planning," this session was attended by over 40 janitorial staff. The session was designed with a focus on the principles of "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion," addressing how underserved community females and males could fulfill their daily caloric and nutritional requirements on a tight budget.

These nutrition awareness sessions and community outreach programs align with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). The NUMS Department of Nutrition & Dietetics is committed to continuing such awareness sessions and community outreach programs in the twin cities and beyond.

National Institutes of Health (NIH), Islamabad is a prestigious public health organization providing various aspects of healthcare and facilities. NIH is actively involved in multi-disciplinary technical, administrative and health facilities. This organization aims at combating the challenges of epidemics, outbreaks of viral diseases and emerging infections in the population. NIH has introduced new advancements in the field of laboratory, diagnostics, vaccines & immunization and food & drug quality control. At the same time, NIH has well equipped training facilities for health professionals.

A group of students of NUMS Department of Nutrition and Dietetics (NDND) visited National Institute of Health (NIH) on 25th May 2023. The students were accompanied by Miss Tara Khursheed, Dr. Sana Ikram and Ms. Juweria Abid. The purpose of the visit was to engage students in practical learning experience in the field of Nutritional Biochemistry. The event was specifically intended to enhance their understanding of the subject through practical activities and demonstrations regarding food analysis, DNA Extraction, use of HPLC, spectrophotometer and hands on experiments related to nutrition. The visit also exposed students to the research facilities and resources available at NIH. All students actively participated in practical sessions conducted by experienced Biochemist and Researchers at NIH. They had the opportunity to explore state of the art laboratories, research equipment, and observe ongoing research projects related to nutrition and health sciences. The event provided a platform for students to network with professionals in the field of nutrition and health sciences. A dedicated question/answer session allowed to students to clarify doubts and gain insights from experienced professionals.

The visit acknowledged positive feedback from the students, who appreciated the interactive nature of the visit, the expertise of the facilitators, and the opportunity to engage in practical activities.

Everyone wants their child to grow up not only healthy and confident, both also physically and intellectually. Your child's health is significantly affected if you do not take into account the significance of healthy eating and dietary choices. Therefore, giving your child the right nutrients at a time when their growth and development are accelerating can prepare them for a healthy and balanced life.
Pakistan is facing a serious problem of child under malnutrition. On one side, we are facing the problems of stunting, wasting and underweight, while on the other side, 9.5% Pakistani children are also overweight. Understanding the appalling status of Pakistan's nutrition indices and the necessity of delivering nutrition education at the local and state level, NUMS department of Nutrition & Dietetics conducted two training sessions for students at SLS School Senior branch, PWD campus on 13th February 2023 (Monday). In the 1st session, Grades II & III students were trained regarding the “Importance of Milk” by Dr. Zehra and Miss Tara. In the 2nd session, Dr. Sana Ikram talked about the “Importance of Breakfast” which was attended by Grade IV & V students. In the first session, 320 students and 15 teachers participated while in the second session, the number of students was 217 along with 7 teachers.
These training sessions were conducted in accordance with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good health and well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality education). NUMS department of Nutrition & Dietetics aims to continue conducting such training sessions in various schools in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

NUMS Department of Nutrition & Dietetics (NDND) organized an orientation session for the newly admitted students of BS – HND (Human Nutrition & Dietetics) program on February 20, 2023. The session was chaired by the Head of the Department Dr. Abdul Momin Rizwan Ahmad. Other faculty members included Dr. Umar Farooq (Associate Professor), Dr. Zehra Parveen and Dr. Sana Ikram (Assistant Professors), and Miss. Juweria Abid and Miss Tara Khursheed (Lecturers).

Dr. Umar Farooq started the session with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by a welcome note by the worthy Dean, Prof. Dr. Aisha Mohyuddin.  After that, the HoD, Dr. Abdul Momin addressed the students, highlighting the significance of university education and the field of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. All the faculty members then introduced themselves to the students followed by students’ introduction to the faculty members. Dr. Zehra Parveen then introduced the program BS – Human Nutrition & Dietetics to the students. Dr. Sana Ikram presented the session titled “Introduction to Academics”, followed by Ms. Juweria Abid, who talked about “Examination and Assessment Policy” at NUMS.

After that, a Question and Answer session was held in which students asked several queries regarding the scope of degree, the future prospects, further fields of specialization and link with other degrees. Next, Ms. Aqsa from the Digital Technology Directorate presented in detail regarding the use of Moodle, which is the online Learning management software for students at NUMS. At the end of the session, Dr. Umar Farooq thanked all the participants for attending the orientation session. Students were also provided with refreshments.  

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Keeping this in view, nutrition education needs to be imparted from the very beginning. Sadly, most of the developing countries such as Pakistan have not been able to focus on this particular aspect, resulting in poor nutrition-related national indicators.

Considering the severity of this grave problem, NUMS department of Nutrition & Dietetics arranged two training sessions for the students of SLS Montessori School & College, PWD campus. The first of these training sessions was organized on February 09, 2023, for students of Junior Montessori and Senior Montessori. Dr. Zehra Parveen and Ms. Tara Khursheed conducted the session which was attended by 151 students. A second session was arranged on February 10, 2023, for students of Advanced Montessori and Grade I. Dr. Abdul Momin and Dr. Sana Ikram conducted the session which was attended by 348 students. Overall, around 17 teachers along with the principal also attended the sessions on both days.

The topic for both the sessions was healthy versus junk foods. Students were initially shown two videos focusing on healthy and junk foods and the effects that their consumption has on our health. After that, a brief orientation was given to the students as per their level of understanding. Students were then asked about which foods were healthy and which were unhealthy. These training sessions were conducted in accordance with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good health and well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality education).

NUMS department of Nutrition & Dietetics aims to continue conducting such training sessions in various schools in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

NUMS team of nutritionists visited The Great Maple School, PWD campus as part of its campaign to create awareness about nutrition. A total of 19 students and 3 teachers attended the training session. They told the students that adapting to healthy eating patterns at a young age was very important for the appropriate growth and development of an individual. This does not only improve the immunity of individuals but is also associated with diseased risk for development of different diseases and fewer hospitalizations.

Dr. Umar Farooq and Miss. Juweria conducted the session for students of Grade IV to VIII. Their topic was “My Plate – The Guide to Healthy Eating”. During this activity, the resource persons focused on the significance of consuming foods regularly from 5 food groups, that is, fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, and dairy. The key takeaways from the activity were: a) fill half of the plate with vegetables and fruits: b) make at least half of the plate filled with whole grains c) take fat-free or low-fat milk and water rather than sugary drinks; d) don't consume oversized portions.

These training sessions were conducted in accordance with UN Sustainable Development Goals(SDG) 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good health and well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality education). NUMS aims to continue conducting such training sessions in various schools in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

NUMS Department of Nutrition and Dietetics has initiated a nutrition awareness and training program amongst   school students. In its first nutrition education and training session a team of nutritionists visited the Montessori class of “The International School System, PWD campus and informed the students that eating healthy could enhance the growth and development of a child's physical and mental capabilities. It also wards off potential health issues such as eating disorders, dental cavities, nutritional deficiencies, obesity, and others.

Considering the importance of nutritional awareness for the children, 40 students attended the session who were educated to adapt healthy eating patterns and avoid the frequent consumption of junk foods.

Dr. Sana Ikram and Mrs. Tara Khursheed conducted the session on Feb 6, 2023 (Monday) and motivated the children to start their week with a healthy meal. The Montessori students were provided with placards which helped them to distinguish the healthy food items (fruits, vegetables, and meat) from the unhealthy junk items (pizzas, burgers, and soft drinks). The seminar was conducted under the banner of “Eat Healthy Today for A Better Tomorrow (Healthy V/S Junk food)”.

These nutrition education training sessions were conducted in accordance with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good health and well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality education). NUMS department of Nutrition & Dietetics aims to continue conducting such training sessions in various schools of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

A well-balanced diet is very important for the growth and development of children. Milk although is one of the primary foods for children of growing age, it has been seen that its consumption greatly decreases after infancy. As a good source of many important nutrients including calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D and protein; this group is a crucial part of a well-  balanced diet. Eating or drinking dairy products offers several health benefits such as building and maintaining strong bones and teeth and increased absorption of Vitamin D.

Generally, Pakistani children do not consume enough milk daily. This fact is also evident from the results of the National Nutrition Survey of Pakistan 2018-19, which shows that 13.3% children under the age of 5 had severe vitamin D deficiency. Taking it into consideration, the NUMS department of Nutrition and Dietetics conducted yet another productive training session for students of Grade I to IV at the United Charter School, PWD campus on Feb 8, 2023 (Wednesday). Dr. Zehra Parveen and Dr. Sana Ikram enlightened a group of 20 students and 6 teachers on the importance of daily milk & dairy consumption.

These training sessions were conducted in accordance with UN Sustainable and Development Goals (SDG) 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good health and well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality education). NUMS department of Nutrition & Dietetics aims to continue conducting such training sessions in various schools in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Good nutrition is a cornerstone of good health but nutrition related indicators in Pakistan are very poor because due consideration is not accorded to the field of nutrition in the country.

According to the National Nutrition Survey of Pakistan 2018-19, 40.2% children in Pakistan are stunted (lower height for age), 17.7% are weak (lower weight for height), 28.9% are underweight (lower weight for age) while 9.5% are overweight. This calls for immediate interventions which can bring a long-term change in the eating habits and dietary choices of people at large.

Realizing the dire state of nutrition indicators in Pakistan and the importance of imparting nutrition education at the grassroot level, NUMS department of Nutrition & Dietetics organized trainings for students at the Roots International School, PWD campus on Jan 26, 2023 (Thursday) and Jan 27, 2023 (Friday). On the first day, students of Grade I to grade IV were trained regarding the “Importance of Breakfast” by the faculty members Dr. Sana Ikram and Ms. Tara Khursheed. On the second day, Dr. Zehra Parveen and Ms. Juweria Abid conducted a briefing session for students of Grade V to Grade VIII on the topic “Healthy Eating – The Concept of My Plate”.  More than 80 students attended the training sessions on both the days.

These training sessions were conducted in accordance with UN6 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2) (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good health and well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality education). NUMS department of Nutrition & Dietetics aims to continue conducting such training sessions in various schools in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Education is the most important area which needs to be strengthened to achieve sustainable national development and national cohesion. Education quality forms the basic foundation for improved student performance, enabling them to realize their full potential. The prime focus of the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) has been on quality education and gender equality since its inception. NUMS not only seeks to encourage the admissions of female students in its various programs, but also strives for women empowerment in every field of life, as per the agenda of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Scholarships could be valuable when it comes to paying for higher education. To enhance and strengthen its academic programs, NUMS grants open merit scholarships to encourage and acknowledge its bright students based on their academic excellence. These open merit scholarships are awarded to the top 3 position holders among the students enrolled in each semester of various disciplines. Considering the academic results/evaluation, the list of students eligible for merit scholarships is generated by the respective departments and finalized by the Examination and Finance Directorates of NUMS.

NUMS Department of Nutrition and Dietetics (NDND) awarded the merit scholarships to 1^st (2021-2025) and 2^nd Batch (2022-2026) of BS - Human Nutrition and Dietetics (HND) students. The students with the highest GPAs were selected on the basis of 1^st semester and 3^rd semester results. The scholarship cheques were distributed among the position holders by the Acting Head of the Department, Assistant Professor Dr. Abdul Momin Rizwan Ahmad in a small ceremony held on October 21, 2022.

Following students received the merit scholarships cheques;

Semester I

1.         Shazia Zulfiqar                           1^st Position                                          Rs. 15,000/-

2.         Roha Raheel                                2^nd Position                                         Rs. 10,000/-

3.         Wajiha Sakina                             3^rd Position                                          Rs. 5,000/-

Semester III

1.         Maryam Nisar                                  1^st Position                                          Rs. 15,000/-

2.         Aiman Abid                                     2^nd Position                                         Rs. 10,000/-

3.         Mahnoor Aslam                               3^rd Position                                          Rs. 5,000/-

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NUMS Department of Nutrition and Dietetics is committed to provide theoretical knowledge as well as practical learning according to international standards. Therefore, NUMS Department of Nutrition and Dietetics organized a field trip for the students at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad on 31^st May, 2022.

Prior to one day from scheduled trip, Dr. Falak Zeb (Assistant Professor, Department of Human Nutrition & Dietetics) conducted a pre-visit session to discuss the objectives of the visit followed by a briefing on punctuality and discipline on the day of trip. On 31^st May, 2022, BS-HND students (semester 3) accompanied by Dr. Falak Zeb, reached the Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad at 11:30 am. After security clearance, the students were taken to the conference room for briefing session.

Dietitians and Nutritionists from the Department of Nutrition, Food Services and Clinical Nutrition at Shifa Hospital delivered a lecture through emphasizing on structural and functional components of the Department. Ms. Zainab (Senior Clinical Nutritionist), Ms. Bushra and Ms. Maryam (Dieticians), Ms. Anum from the Food and Nutrition Department and lastly Dr. Rezzan Khan, The Head of the Department of Nutrition at Shifa International Hospital covered various topics such as;

• Importance of nutrition in hospitals and patient management
• The emergence of the field of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Applications of nutrition and dietetics practices in hospitals and private sector
• Assessment and treatment of nutritional status for patients in hospital settings
• Diet plans for patients with various health ailments
• Working and field experience in the field of Nutrition

At the end of the lecture, a question answer session was held to answer the students’ queries.  

Finally, students were taken to the hospital kitchen facility for an overview of preparation of diet meals according to health conditions of patients. The students were then served with refreshments after which they returned to the Department at 3:30 pm.

Keeping in view the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the prime focus of the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) has been on quality education and gender equality since its inception. NUMS not only seeks to encourage the admissions of female students in its various programs, but also strives for women empowerment in every field of life.

In order to strengthen its academic programs, NUMS offers open merit scholarships to encourage and acknowledge its bright students based on their academic excellence. These open merit scholarships are awarded to the top 3 position holders among the students enrolled in each semester of various disciplines. The list of students eligible for merit scholarships is generated by the respective departments considering the academic results/evaluation and finalized by the Examination and Finance Directorates of NUMS.

NUMS Department of Nutrition and Dietetics (NDND) awarded the merit scholarships to 1^st Batch (2021-2025) of BS - Human Nutrition and Dietetics (HND) students. The students with the highest GPAs were selected on the basis of 2^nd semester (Fall 2021-22 session) result. The scholarship cheques were distributed among the position holders by the Head of the Department, Associate Professor Dr. Sehar Iqbal in a small ceremony held on May 30, 2022. She congratulated the winners, praised, and encouraged them for future achievements.

Following students received the merit scholarships cheques;

1. Maryam Nisar                                     1^st Position                                          Rs. 15,000/-
2. Mahnoor Aslam                                  2^nd Position                                         Rs. 10,000/-
3. Mariyum Chaudhary                          3^rd Position                                          Rs. 5,000/-