RAF News
Seminar to share findings of the Punjab ANC Services Assessment Study (PASA)
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Lahore, 29th November, 2011: A dissemination seminar was held at the Allama Iqbal Medical College (AIMC) Lahore by Research Society and Department of the Community Medicine AIMC to share the findings from the Punjab ANC services Assessment Study; a research study to assess antenatal care services in first-level care facilities (BHUs and RHCs) in nine districts of Punjab. The project was funded by Maternal and Newborn Health Programme- Research and Advocacy Fund (RAF). The research study evaluated the provision and quality of ANC services at primary health care level in the province Punjab of Pakistan.
The seminar included a session on presentations followed by an interactive session. Participants in the seminar included the district and provincial health mangers, representatives of RAF, national and international health agencies/NGOs, professors of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, members of PASA study team, media and faculty members of Community Medicine, AIMC. Dr. Jehanzeb Khan, Secretary Health Govt. Punjab was the Guest of Honour and Prof. Javed Akram presided the seminar. The first session was chaired by Professor Dr. Javed Akram, Principal AIMC and Patron of Research Society, AIMC and co-chaired by Dr Wajiha Ghias, Manager Grants, Maternal and Newborn Health Programme Research and Advocacy Fund (RAF).
Dr.Zarabia Pervaiz from the Department of the Community Medicine started the proceedings by introducing the participants. Professor Dr.Arif Siddiqui, President RS-AIMC welcomed the participants, thanked RAF team for funding the research project and briefed the audience on the objectives, functions, activities and achievements of the RSAIMC. Dr. Wajiha Ghias introduced RAF, its aims and objectives and the contributions of RAF in improvement of maternal and newborn health in order to achieve MDGs 4&5 and briefed about procedure of applying for RAF grants. She also thanked Principal AIMC and PASA study team for their cooperation and timely completion of Research Project.
Dr Seema Hasnain, Project Coordinator presented the study methodology and Dr.Muhammad Ashraf Majrooh, Principal Investigator of the study presented findings, conclusions and recommendations of the study. In the interactive session participants discussed the utility of study results to plan interventions. At the opening of the discussion Dr.Baber Alam representative of WHO appreciated the strength of the study to provide quality and coverage of ANC in the Punjab.
Dr. Jehanzeb Khan said that “Provincial and district health stakeholders must use the PASA findings to plan future interventions at PHC level facilities” and agreed that the indicators of coverage and quality can be potential as benchmarks for the MNCH interventions aimed at MDGs 4&5.
Prof. Dr.Javed Akram said that although the findings are based on ANC assessment but the study recommendations have cross-cutting implications for improvement of overall PHC services. The availability, accessibility and resources deficiency and management flaws are the common problems faced at PHC health facilities.
From Left to Right: Dr Farzana, Public Health Specialist, Rawalpindi, Dr. Syeda Zahida, Sarwar, Provincial Programme Coordinator MNCH, Punjab, Dr Sabiha Khurshid, Ex. Provincial Programme Coordinator MNCH, Punjab.
Dr. Syeda Zahida Sarwar, Provincial Program Coordinator, MNCH program Punjab, said that “we own the study findings as we were consulted in planning and implementation phase of the study. In response to the findings of this study we are adding essential package of lab testing kits in the Community Midwife (CMW) services package”.
The Honorable Secretary health presented the printed copies of study report to the Executive District Officers Health (EDOH) of the study districts and participants. In the concluding remarks Secretary Health urged all the stakeholders to use the study findings to plan the interventions for achievement of MDGs. He also thanked RAF for funding small grant to conduct research study that has policy implications.
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