Increases in vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks threaten years of progress, warn WHO, UNICEF, GAVI

Immunization efforts are under growing threat as misinformation, population growth, humanitarian crises, and funding cuts jeopardize progress and leave millions of children, adolescents, and adults at risk, warn WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi during World Immunization Week being held from 24-30 April. Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, meningitis, and yellow fever are rising globally, and diseases like diphtheria, which…

Read more

Pakistan’s first MR LINAC Cancer Center inaugurated at Dow University

Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) inaugurated its Comprehensive Cancer Centre (CCC) at the Ojha campus, with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah praising the development and pledging an additional Rs2 billion for advanced equipment. The CCC, built at a cost of Rs6.4 billion, features cutting-edge facilities for diagnosis and treatment, including Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology, and Nuclear Medicine…

Read more

Week-long, province-wide Polio Eradication Campaign launched

Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, officially launched a week-long, province-wide Polio Eradication Campaign by administering polio drops to children at the CM House, reaffirming the government’s firm commitment to eliminating the crippling disease from Sindh. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Minister for Health and Population Welfare Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Sindh IG Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, Commissioner…

Read more

HPF opens Changing Diabetes® in Children Center at Dow University

The Health Promotion Foundation (HPF) inaugurated a new Changing Diabetes® in Children (CDiC) center at Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS). This milestone represents a significant advancement in the fight against diabetes among children and young adults in Pakistan. The CDiC program, a public-private partnership initiated by Novo Nordisk Pakistan and HPF, aims to provide comprehensive care for children and…

Read more

Celebrating the Unsung Heroes of Healthcare: Medical Laboratory Professionals Week 2025

By Dr. Usman Waheed, Principal, Islamabad Medical & Dental College, Islamabad Each April, as the world blooms into spring, those of us in the field of pathology and laboratory medicine pause to reflect, celebrate, and honor a group of healthcare heroes often hidden behind the scenes, the medical laboratory professionals. The last week of April is marked globally as Medical…

Read more

to vaccines in Pakistan 

In a significant step toward ensuring equitable access to life-saving vaccines for every child in Pakistan, UNICEF officially handed over 31 refrigerated trucks to the Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI) in Islamabad with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Mustafa Kamal, Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination said that these new refrigerated vehicles will significantly strengthen access to…

Read more

Tuberculosis remains one of the deadliest diseases worldwide – WHO

World  Health Organization (WHO) insisted as the March 24 Tuberculosis (TB) Day looms over that the disease remains one of the deadliest infectious maladies globally, causing 1.25 million deaths and 10.8 million cases in 2023, with significant impacts on vulnerable populations, including HIV positive patients. The Covid-19 pandemic and socioeconomic challenges have reversed years of progress in combating TB, especially in the…

Read more

JSMU celebratesInternational Women’s Day and World Sleep Day

Importance of sleep in maintaining overall health and productivity highlighted Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) took a pioneering step in promoting gender equality and holistic well-being by organizing a Seminar to celebrate International Women’s Day and World Sleep Day 2025 at JSMU, Karachi. The event brought together leading experts, policymakers, faculty members and media representatives to address the challenges faced…

Read more

PANAH Calls for Policy Measures to Tackle Rising Obesity and Non-Communicable Diseases in Pakistan

The prevalence of obesity, overweight, and diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is rising at an alarming rate in Pakistan. More than 40% of the population is either overweight or obese, with childhood overweight rates nearly doubling between 2011 and 2018. Among women of reproductive age, obesity and overweight have surged from 28% to 38% in just five years. A major contributor…

Read more

Sindh EPI provides WHO-donated computer devices to surveillance personnel

In order to improve reporting on vaccination as well as accuracy in field operations, the Sindh Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) has provided mobile computer devices to its surveillance personnel with the support of the World Health Organisation (WHO). According to an official statement, the distribution of the mobile tablets is aimed at enhancing real-time surveillance data reporting on preventable…

Read more