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12th National Research Symposium at AKU Experts to Discuss Aspects of Injuries and Disasters in the Developing World

August 26, 2008

Aga Khan University (AKU) is organising its 12th National Health Sciences Research Symposium and Workshops on the theme of Injuries, Trauma and Disaster from August 26 to 28, 2008.

This year the symposium is focusing on promoting injury prevention and care as an integral part of local and national public health policies and programmes; on sharing state-of-the-art research and practices in all fields of injury/trauma care at national and regional level; on fostering partnerships between professionals working in the field of injury prevention and trauma care at local, national and regional level; and discussing ways to enhance emergency preparedness and disaster management. A number of capacity building workshops are being offered to medical professionals, students, social scientists, researchers and development workers.

Dr Sagheer Ahmed, Health Minister for Sindh was the chief guest at the Inaugural Session. Other speakers included Dr Muhammad Khurshid, Dean, AKU Medical College, Lt. Gen (Retd) Farooq Ahmed Khan, Chairman, National Disaster Management Authority; Dr Rashid Jooma, Director General Health Services; and Dr Junaid Razzaq, Chairman Organising Committee of the symposium.

For the first time all keynote addresses at the inaugural session on August 26 and all the plenary lectures on August 27 and 28 by international and national speakers of the symposium will be relayed live on the internet at http://www.aku.edu/events/injury/programme.htm 

Injuries are a major public health problem in Pakistan and across the globe. Burden of disease analysis has shown injuries to be one of the leading causes of loss of healthy life. Injuries rank 11th in terms of mortality and 2nd in terms of disability losses in Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan has identified injuries as a priority area in their 2004 National Action Plan for Non-Communicable Disease Prevention, Control and Health Promotion in Pakistan with the earthquake of October 8th, 2005 bringing forward the need for a proactive approach to disaster management and trauma care. The Symposium will contribute in capacity building, identifying areas for improvement and developing strategies for prevention and management of injuries and disasters in Pakistan and the developing world.
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For more information, contact Hassaan Akhter, Media Executive, Department of Public Affairs, Aga Khan University, Stadium Road, Karachi, on +92 21 486-2927 or hassaan.akhter@aku.edu.

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