LAHORE: The 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.
