The Workshop on Modeling Burden of Disease, held on October 11-12, 2024, at Peshawar Barracks, was a two-day event organized by AKU CITRIC HDSC in collaboration with Rehman Medical Institute (RMI) and Khyber Medical University (KMU). Aimed at healthcare professionals from institutions such as RMI, KMU, Health Service Academy, and GIKI, the workshop focused on capacity building in disease modeling. The learning objectives included understanding the significance of disease modeling, using R to design minimalist models, applying frameworks to assess intervention scenarios, and communicating insights effectively to stakeholders. Day 1 featured a welcome by Dr. Zainab Samad, Prof. Zia Ul Haq (Vice Chancellor, KMU), and Mr. Shafique ur Rehman (CEO, RMI). Participants were introduced to the burden of disease in Pakistan, the basics of disease modeling, and hands-on sessions on R for data manipulation, visualization, and cleaning. Dr. Riaz Tanoli presented on universal health coverage and disease expenditure, followed by a Q&A on disease burden prioritization with Dr. Faisal Khan. Chief guests included Dr. Abdus Samad and Dr. Abdul Ahad. Day 2 focused on mathematical modeling, including the Susceptible, Infectious, and Recovered (SIR) model, the effects of public health interventions, and a session on cervical cancer burden estimation in Pakistan. The day concluded with scenario-building exercises using GBD Compare and a panel discussion on disease burden prioritization, moderated by Dr. Zainab Samad, with panelists Dr. Maryam Sarfaraz, Dr. Khalid Rehman, Dr. Zohaib Khan, Dr. Muhammad Hafizullah, and Mr. Shafique ur Rehman. The workshop provided an essential platform for healthcare professionals to enhance their skills in disease modeling and public health intervention assessment.
