LAHORE: The Nur Center for Research & Policy (NCRP) has organized an Orientation and Inception seminar in Lahore for the think tank’s Voice and Advocacy Fund Project, awarded to them by Ilm Ideas (a DFID funded project).
The project will serve as a forum to review the health-related issues and challenges confronting Punjab in improving the educational outcomes of school children in the province.
The evidence generated through research activities is expected to identify gaps and make a compelling case for strengthening the existing School Health Program in Punjab. The project will have policy implications and is fortunately being undertaken at an opportune time when the Government of Punjab is working on fine-tuning the School Health Program while looking at multiple facets of health, nutrition, education and interlinking these facets through a multi-sectoral approach.
The seminar was attended by Ms. Shaista Pervaiz Malik – Chief Social Mobilizer, Mrs. Shahima Rehman – President NUR Foundation, Dr. Haroon Ihsan – CEO NUR Foundation, Dr. Tasleem Akhtar – Senior Technical Advisor NUR Foundation, Dr. Nisar Ahmad – Technical Advisor USAID, Dr. Zahida Sarwar – Additional Director PHSRP, UsmanGhani – Focal Person School Health Program, academicians, members of donor agencies, consultants, public health experts and the members of the media
The project will facilitate direct interaction between policy-makers, development partners, academicians and researchers. During the seminar, an overview of the present School Health Program and Ilm Ideas Voice and Advocacy project was also be given. The outcomes of the meeting are expected to make a compelling case for prioritizing and strengthening the School Health Program and its relevance to Convention on the Rights of the Children (CRC).
The NCRP, endowed by Nur Foundation and the technical arm of Fatima Memorial Hospital, is a policy think tank that offers research, policy advice, technical assistance and capacity enhancement across the health, education and social sectors through a consortium of consultants and public health experts.
