Latest news with #AgaKhanUniversity
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Voices from the Roof of the World
An internationally acclaimed documentary series titled Voices from the Roof of the World, which highlights the human side of the climate crisis and presents it as a source of catastrophic suffering, is being brought to television screens. The production has been sponsored by the Aga Khan University, Aga Khan Agency for Habitat, Aga Khan Foundation, and the University of Central Asia and will be telecast by the Express Media Group. The documentary has been honoured with many international awards, including at the International Nature and Environmental Protection Film Festival held in Hungary, in 2023. The project seeks to highlight the human side of the climate-crisis, presenting it as a source of catastrophic suffering instead of what it has long been misunderstood and presented as an "issue" to be addressed down the road. This series breaks with the conventional depiction of climate change by focusing on its day-to-day reality for ordinary people. The roof for much of the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia are the mountain ranges of the Himalayas and the Hindu Kush. The central message of the documentary series states that roofs provide people with shelter and protect them from harm, adding that in the comfort of their homes they shelter individuals from the wrath of nature — rainfall, extreme heat and extreme cold. It further notes that roofs rely on pillars of support to hold them up, and if the burden on them increases beyond capacity and the pillars are damaged and weakened, the same roof would collapse and kill people. It's a production by an Emmy award winning producer Andrew Tkach.
Business Recorder
28-04-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
Malaria elimination project launched in Thatta
KARACHI: The Aga Khan University (AKU) marked World Malaria Day with the launch of the Thatta Malaria Elimination Plan (TMEP), a pioneering project designed to eliminate malaria from one of Pakistan's most malaria-affected regions. In 2023 alone, Thatta reported over 10,000 cases — the highest burden in the country. Malaria continues to be a global health crisis, with 247 million cases and 619,000 deaths reported worldwide. In the South-East Asia region, Pakistan remains a significant contributor to ongoing transmission, with 95% of the country's population at risk. The disease not only places immense pressure on the health system but has severe repercussion on the nation's social and economic development. 'This is not just a health issue,' said Prof M Asim Beg, Principal Investigator and TMEP Project Lead. 'It's a multidimensional challenge driven by socioeconomic vulnerabilities, post-flood consequences, limited healthcare access, and climatic changes that allow the disease to thrive. Thatta is an ideal region to pilot diverse intervention strategies.' The launch event also introduced the Malaria Elimination Consortium, established by AKU in 2023 to support the national elimination strategy. The Consortium laid the foundation for the TMEP as a locally grounded, data-driven response to malaria elimination. The TMEP's vision is ambitious – to transform Thatta into a malaria-free zone and create a replicable, sustainable model for elimination that can be scaled across Sindh, Pakistan, and other malaria-endemic regions globally. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
17-04-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Dr Pechuho gets AKU Award
Sindh Health and Population Welfare Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho was conferred with the Aga Khan University's (AKU) prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her decades-long service to public health and social welfare. The award was presented by AKU President Sulaiman Shahabuddin during the National Symposium on Primary Health Care held at the university on April 16. Dr Pechuho, a seasoned public health advocate and Member of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh, has played a transformative role in improving healthcare delivery across the province. With over 25 years of experience in the sector, she has spearheaded initiatives to combat infectious diseases, expand immunisation programmes, and increase access to healthcare and education for women, children, and underserved communities. The AKU Lifetime Achievement Award is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the fields of research, teaching, healthcare, and global development. Dr Pechuho's leadership and commitment to strengthening Sindh's health infrastructure were lauded at the ceremony, which also acknowledged her enduring legacy of service and reform.
Associated Press
14-03-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
New Research Unveils Critical Insights into 30-Day Readmissions for Patients with Myocarditis and COVID-19
Chicago, IL - A recent surge in 30-day unplanned readmissions among patients diagnosed with both myocarditis and COVID-19 is raising serious concerns within the global healthcare community. This emerging issue has become a focal point of research as healthcare systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, continue to face mounting pressure in managing the long-term effects of COVID-19. New findings highlight the need for targeted post-discharge care, better monitoring, and resource management to reduce readmissions and their associated financial burdens. Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle often triggered by COVID-19, has been identified as a key factor in these readmissions. Data reveals that nearly 17% of patients with both conditions experience readmission within 30 days, a rate significantly higher than other cardiovascular conditions. Research suggests that underlying comorbidities such as heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus increase the risk of readmission, stressing the importance of identifying high-risk patients and providing timely interventions. 'The findings of this research underscore the urgent need for healthcare systems, especially in developing nations, to adopt comprehensive post-discharge care plans. As we continue to see higher-than-expected readmission rates, the financial strain on healthcare systems is only going to increase,' said. Mr. Lukas Meier, Founder and CEO, Alpine Vision Media. 'These findings are particularly important for countries with limited healthcare resources, where the burden of care for high-risk patients is overwhelming both financially and operationally.' Healthcare leaders from around the world have weighed in on the significance of these findings. Dr. Riaz Muhammad, a cardiologist and researcher at Aga Khan University in Pakistan, Dr. Reham Fawzy, a prominent cardiologist at Cairo University in Egypt, echoed the importance of timely follow-up care. The study, titled 'Risk Factors, Trends, and Financial Impact for 30-Day Unplanned Readmissions in Patients Admitted With Myocarditis and COVID-19,' was authored by Dheeraj Kommineni, Priji Prasad Jalaja, Ramakrishna Tumati, Dilip Kumar, Anirban Majumder, and Chrishanti Anna Joseph and published in Cureus on March 10, 2025. The research found that readmission rates were highest between days 7 and 14 post-discharge and that the median cost for initial hospitalization was approximately USD 56,000, underscoring the substantial financial strain of these readmissions on healthcare systems. Citation: Kommineni D, Prasad Jalaja P, Tumati R, Kumar D, Majumder A, Joseph CA. (March 10, 2025) Risk Factors, Trends, and Financial Impact for 30-Day Unplanned Readmissions in Patients Admitted With Myocarditis and COVID-19: Insights From the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Readmission Database. Cureus 17(3): e80371. DOI 10.7759/cureus.80371. 'This research serves as a call to action,' concluded Mr. Meier, 'We must address the gap in post-discharge care, especially in regions with limited resources. If we are to manage these complex cases effectively, collaboration and investment in healthcare infrastructure are essential.' As the global healthcare community continues to address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, research like this one provides critical insights that can guide policy changes and the development of more effective healthcare strategies aimed at reducing readmission rates, improving patient outcomes, and easing the financial burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Country: Switzerland
Express Tribune
05-03-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
'Almost 20% of patients die due to hospital errors'
An alarming 18-20 per cent of hospitalised patients in the country lose their lives due to medical errors, negligence, misadministration of drugs, and deadly infections in the hospitals, experts have claimed. Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Patient Safety and Quality Healthcare Conference to be hosted by Aga Khan University (AKU) in April and organised by Riphah Institute of Healthcare, leading healthcare professionals called for urgent reforms to improve patient safety in hospitals across the country. The press conference was addressed by Executive Director of Riphah International, Asadullah Khan, Executive Director of NICVD, Prof. Dr. Tahir Saghir, Chairman of Patient Safety, Dr. Zakiuddin, and Sayed Jamshed Ahmed. Dr. Zakiuddin, citing research from the Johns Hopkins Institute, stated that over 100,000 people die annually in the United States due to preventable medical errors. "In the US, the leading cause of death is heart disease, followed by cancer, while preventable medical errors are the third most common cause of deaths. This is a serious issue that requires immediate action," he emphasised. He further mentioned that the primary objective of the 8th International Patient Safety Conference in April, is to enhance patient safety and improving healthcare quality.
