Jinnah Sindh Medical University’s Institute of Family Medicine (IFM-JSMU) and Pink Pakistan Trust (PPT) on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with an aim to upgrade the governmental Basic Health Units (BHUs) for providing primary healthcare facilities.
PPT President Dr Zubaida Qazi, and JSMU Vice Chancellor (VC) Professor Syed Muhammad Tariq Rafi have signed the MoU, said a news release.
The MoU signing ceremony was held at the VC’s Office where Iqra University VC DrWasimQazi, was invited as the guest of honour.
The agreement was signed in view of Pakistan’s need to strengthen the infrastructure of Basic Health Units (BHUs) and provide vocational training to the general practitioners to enhance community resilience by offering CME sessions, CPD courses and enhancing community resilience for primary healthcare.
Speaking on the occasion, VC Professor S M Tariq Rafi appreciated the step taken by the IFM Head of Department Professor Marie Andrades and the team in cementing the alliance with PPT, and assured them of full support from JSMU in its implementation.
Acknowledging the efforts of Jinnah Sindh Medical University’s Institute of Family Medicine (IFM-JSMU) in bringing the idea into fruition, he urged the panel to motivate more female practitioner drop outs to join this initiative.
Dr Zubaida Qazi also spoke on the occasion, and highlighted her respective organisations’ contributions to the mitigation of primary healthcare issues.
She remarked that the recent Covid-19 pandemic had further highlighted the need for reducing the burden from tertiary hospitals and reestablishing the governmental BHUs in remote areas of the city.