NUR Center for Research & Policy (NCRP) held a
seminar entitled “Reaching out to the marginalized” through which NUR
Foundation & Fatima Memorial System shared their experiences on
adopting health systems approach to achieve integrated community
development. Experts from USA & Bangladesh also shared their
experiences of similar endeavors to develop communities globally.
Dr.
Zafrullah Chowdhury, a public health activist & founder of
“Gonoshasthaya Kendra” a rural healthcare organization from Bangladesh
spoke on ‘Basic Health Care in Rural Bangladesh’.
The was
followed by Mrs. Shahima Rehman, Founder President NUR Foundation &
Founder Chairperson Fatima Memorial System where she spoke on the
Evolution of the NUR-FMS "home grown" primary and tertiary health care
model for integrated community development.
The last talk was by
Prof. Dr. Jeffery Hammer, visiting Professor of Economic Development at
the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton
University. He spoke extensively on “Making Services work for Poor
People” as he had researched on the quality of medical care in India,
absenteeism of teachers and health workers, determinants of health
status and improving service delivery through better accountability
mechanism.
Speaking about the seminar Mrs. Shahima Rehman,
Founder President NUR Foundation said, “We believe seminars like these
have the capacity to become a catalyst for change. As people with
experience, it provides an opportunity to share, to learn, to discuss
and find solutions which can benefit the community.”
The seminar
concluded with a group discussion between the guests present and the
speakers on the current healthcare scenario of Pakistan.
In
attendance were Prof. Humayun Maqsood- Principal FMH College of
Medicine, Prof. Yaqoob Baig Mirza - Principal FMH College of Dentistry,
Dr. Haroon Ihsan – Vice Chairman, Executive Committee Fatima Memorial
System, Dr. Arif Amir Nawaz – Hospital director, Fatima Memorial
Hospital ,Dr. Ijaz Nabi, Country Head - International Growth Centre and
Advisor to Chief Minister of Punjab along with senior members of the
Government of Punjab, members of academia, and development professionals
NUR Foundation and Fatima Memorial System have worked in
collaboration with the Government of Punjab for four decades and strive
to work together in strengthening health delivery systems across Pakistan.