“Higher Education Commission is committed to promote higher education in Pakistan and has made huge investment to develop the infrastructure of universities and also scholarships had been provided to enhance the skill and qualification of faculty and in addition serious efforts are made to promote research in academic institutions”, said Dr. Javed R. Laghari, Chairman Higher Education Commission while speaking as a chief guest on the occasion of inaugural ceremony of Newly Constructed Building of Institute of Nursing held today at Ojha Campus of Dow University of Health Sciences.
Dr. Laghari reminded that the education particularly higher education is the key to the development of a nation. He said less than 5% of 17-23 aged young people in Pakistan go to universities and we need to increase it. He also said that he believes that qualified and trained teaching faculty is very important for every good institution.
HEC is also creating platform so that research can be done. Our goal is to double the universities enrolment. We also want to make sure that every university should have a campus in every district of Pakistan. If we have the opportunity for education and employment than we can get rid of lot of problem in Pakistan, he added.
There is need to create graduate in relevant field that are useful for social economic development of Pakistan, we also need to create jobs. He also emphasized on creating jobs, taking research into market and quality education as well.
Dr. Laghari congratulated the Vice Chancellor, Dow University of Health Sciences, Prof. Masood Hameed Khan and his team on their progress because of their high level of commitment and motivation.
Dr. M. Ashraf Moten, Senior Chief, Planning Commission of Pakistan, Islamabad lauded the achievement of DUHS made in a very short period of time.
Prof. Masood Hameed Khan, Vice Chancellor, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) on the occasion said that the nurses are considered the backbone of modern high quality health care system all over the world. Increasing population and rapid development in medical sciences has increased the demand of qualified and skilled nurses.
The situation in Pakistan is quite serious, Dow University of Health Sciences has established the Institute of Nursing at the expense of 182 million rupees with the help of Higher Education Commission, it will produce highly qualified and skilled nurses with diploma as well as BSCN, MSCN and PhD degrees, to cater the demand of health care system in Pakistan.
Earlier, Dr. Sharaf Ali Shah Director Institute of Nursing said that nursing education is ignored in country and only 14 nursing institutes offer undergraduate/graduate programs while all other nursing schools offer 3 year Diploma (After matriculation).
Nurses with advanced education in nursing, healthcare or business administration can become senior executives in organisations such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, community health centres, home care agencies, nursing colleges and professional associations.
Nurses play a vital role in provision of clinical care in the hospitals. Their services are required to assist doctors in different tasks including surgical operations, infection control and others.
Nurses also provide counselling services to bring change in risky behaviours and promote safe behaviours in the community.
Increasing population and rapid development in medical sciences has increased the demand of qualified and skilled nurses all over the world. The situation in Pakistan is quite serious, he added.