HSA-UK Mission Visits IPH

02/06/23

On the visit to Pakistan, the mission of the UK Health Security Agency paid a visit to the Institute of Public Health (IPH) and had a detailed discussion with Dean Professor Dr. Zarfashan Tahir and his technical team about creating a robust system using modern information technology in terms of disease prevention, detection and responded. The mission of UK-HSA included Dr. Mohammad Sartaj Country Head Pakistan, Dr. Paul Clearly Subject Specialist IT Based Interventions, Miss Chole Byer Subject Specialist Surveillance, Outbreak and Investigations. Director Health CDC Dr Yadullah, Punjab Health Advisor UK-HSA Dr Saeed Akhtar were also present on this occasion. Dr. Zarfashan said that Pakistan is the signatory of the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 under which it is our prime responsibility to strengthen various technical areas of the health sector and capacity building of staff should be done on modern lines and a comprehensive strategy of prevent, detect and respond should be adopted with reference to diseases so that epidemics can be prevented from spreading in a timely manner. Dr. Zarfashan further said that the Health Security Agency, U.K. is providing technical assistance to Pakistani institutions to strengthen the public health sector. Dr. Mohammad Sartaj country head UK Agency said that the Health Security Agency will provide technical support to IPH experts in environmental epidemiology and e-learning programs. Dr. Zarfashan said that this program will further extend   training opportunities to the students. The  Mission had a  detailed discussion with the technical team of the Institute of Public Health about the training program, IT solutions. The U.K. mission will also support the training and capacity building of IPH's public health experts and technical staff.

On this occasion, Dr. Zarfashan Tahir said that IPH provided lab test facility to thousands of patients during the corona outbreak last year and recently played an active role in monkeypox prevention and awareness. She added that the importance of the institute has also increased because the Institute of Public Health is the only public sector institution which is providing degree level capacity building and medical education to develop a pool of traind  health professionals to meet the shortage of traind health managers in the province. she further said that cooperation with Health Security Agency, U.K. will be further promote and advanced technology and international level expertise will be fully utilized so that the doctors and health professionals studying in the institute can get better educational and training facilities.

Dr. Zarfashan Tahir briefed the UK Mission about IPH educational and training program and the activities regarding prevention and control of diseases in the province.