KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi meets HSA Vice Chancellor Shahzad Ali in Islamabad on June 14, 2024. — Supplied
ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Friday visited the Health Services Academy (HSA) in Islamabad and sought the academy’s cooperation in training youths from the unserved and underserved areas of KP in medical and digital technologies.
During his meeting with HSA Vice Chancellor Shahzad Ali, Kundi emphasized that the HSA and the Allied Health Professionals Council (AHPC) could train young people from the underserved areas of KP in medical technologies and digital healthcare. This training would enable them to serve in their native areas and also provide opportunities to work abroad, earning valuable foreign exchange, he added.
Referring to a program where the HSA is teaching and training a significant number of students from the underdeveloped areas of Balochistan, Kundi said students from KP deserve similar opportunities. He hoped that the academy, being the pioneer university of public health, could arrange comparable teaching and training opportunities for the underserved areas of KP. “The Health Services Academy’s initiatives are a significant step forward in addressing the healthcare challenges of our province. By investing in education, training and research, we are building a stronger, more resilient healthcare system for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said.
The governor invited Shahzad and his team to visit KP to discuss financial assistance from potential donors to achieve their objectives. He supported the initiatives planned by the academy, emphasizing the critical need for advanced healthcare education and innovative health solutions in the region. He highlighted the importance of equipping healthcare professionals with the latest knowledge and skills to address unique health challenges faced by the province.
Shahzad said their programs were designed to equip healthcare professionals with the tools needed to make a real difference in the lives of citizens. In collaboration with federal and provincial governments and donor agencies, the HSA could introduce a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in public health, healthcare management and clinical specialties for KP students. These programs aim to develop highly-skilled professionals equipped to meet the evolving needs of the healthcare sector. Additionally, the HSA can hold regular training workshops focusing on critical areas such as emergency care, infectious diseases, maternal and child health and health informatics. These workshops are designed to enhance the practical skills of healthcare providers, ensuring they are prepared for the diverse challenges of their profession.
Shahzad suggested that dedicated research centres could be established in KP, focusing on epidemiology, health systems research and biostatistics. These centres would foster a culture of evidence-based practice and innovation within the healthcare community. Emphasizing the importance of community involvement, he mentioned that the HSA could launch initiatives to educate and engage the community in health promotion and disease prevention by establishing wellness centres in different regions of KP. These programs would foster a collaborative approach to healthcare, encouraging active participation from all stakeholders.
Ahmad Kundi, a KP Assembly member who accompanied the governor, expressed his keen interest and support for launching the programs in Dera Ismail Khan.
Source link: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1200644-kundi-seeks-hsa-support-in-training-youth