Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan has said that cooperation between universities would not only ensure improvement in standard of education but would also accelerate development of socio economic sector. This he said while addressing a briefing regarding cooperation between Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) Jamshoro and Centre for Communication Program John Hopkins University USA at Governor House.
Advisor to Governor Sindh for Higher Education, Syed Wajahat Ali, Secretary to Governor Sindh M. Akhtar Ghori and Vice Chancellor LUMHS Prof. Noshad Ahmed Shaikh were also present on the occasion. Governor Sindh said that the most major problem in successful implementation of health policies was unawareness amongst masses about various deadly illnesses, their prevention and cure. He said that unhealthy behaviours pose huge challenge to the health systems and their outputs and are major impediment in achieving desired results. Health communication course will open a door of opportunities for the health professionals in Sindh and improve health literacy which is essential to reduce health related inequalities. He further said that strong health communication is an important part of any health strategy and highlighted the contributions that have already been made at national level through partnership with Health Services Academy and said that a similar door is being opened with the assistance of LUMHS in the province. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Noshad Shaikh, Vice Chancellor, LUMHS said that health communication program at LUMHS would fill a void that currently exists in the province. He thanked John Hopkins Centre for Communication Program and said that the partnership will not only allow for faculty exchange between the departments, but will also pave the way for joint research in the field between both universities. Ms.Shehnaz Wazeer Ali, Provincial Coordinator Oversight & Coordination Cell for Public Health Program said that with the growing realisation in Pakistan of the importance of communication in public health ,the health program have started including social and behavioural communication in their programming which is a welcome sign.
Prof. Noshad Shaikh and Dr. Shuaib Khan, Chief of Party of the Centre briefed Governor Sindh on the proposed partnership between the two Universities.
