A transformative two-day short course, titled “Accessing, Interpreting, and Reporting Health-Related Information to the Public,” recently concluded at the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK), signifying a notable collaboration between the Aga Khan University (AKU) Karachi and UAJK.
This joint initiative, meticulously designed and executed by AKU, aimed at empowering media professionals and Mass Communication students with essential skills to effectively disseminate accurate health information.
Supported by a grant from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), funded by the University of Warwick, and expertly organized by the Section of Non-Communicable Diseases & Mental Health, Department of Community Health Sciences (CHS) at AKU, the course made a significant impact on students of Mass Communication and media professionals in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The training, led by Dr. Romaina Iqbal, Section Head of Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, and Associate Professor at the Department of Community Health Sciences, AKU, along with Dr. Bilal Ahmed Usmani, Assistant Professor and Head of Section for Epidemiology and Biostatistics at CHS, AKU, and a team of Senior Instructors such as Ms. Sabahat Naz, Dr. Mahrukh Zafar, Dr. Muhammad Zia ul Haq, and Mr. Mubashar Naqvi, Public Relations Officer at UAJK, provided participants with engaging lectures, hands-on practice, and valuable tips on accessing, interpreting, and reporting health-related information to the public.
The trainers equipped media professionals and students with various tools and techniques to access credible health-related information, enabling them to interpret and report scientific studies accurately to the public in Pakistan.
