Dr. Aijaz Fatima was a pioneering figure in the medical community, embodying a relentless commitment to providing quality healthcare to women and children in Pakistan.Throughout her illustrious career, Dr. Aijaz Fatima demonstrated unwavering passion and dedication to her profession. She played a pivotal role in establishing healthcare facilities and services along with her husband, Dr. Tajamul Hussain, starting from a small maternity home and emergency centre in Nazimabad, Karachi. This required a lot of effort but Dr. Aijaz Fatima and Dr. Tajamul Hussain remained enthusiastic about their mission and courageously faced any hurdle they came across. Because of their sheer devotion and commitment, the maternity home and emergency centre evolved into the renowned Ziauddin Group of Companies. This group encompasses tertiary care Hospitals, Community-based projects, and a University, all of which are dedicated to the promotion of healthcare and education in Pakistan. Dr. Aijaz Fatima's legacy extends beyond her professional achievements. She was deeply committed to her father's vision of empowering women through education and healthcare. Her tireless efforts in providing medical care to women and children, even in the face of challenging circumstances, exemplify her dedication to humanitarian causes.

AIJAZ FATIMA WOMEN & CHILDREN CENTRE

 Dr. Aijaz Fatima Women & Children Centre outlines a strategic direction focused on advancing research with the provision of quality care and accessible treatment to women and children. The Centre aims to identify priority healthcare issues for optimal health care in the community and at Ziauddin Hospitals, underpinned with the University’s research strength for solutions.

The cutting-edge research in relevant fields such as Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Nursing, Public health, and Family Medicine with respect to mother and child care will contribute to the advancements in maternal and child healthcare practices.

Additionally, the Centre is committed to provide treatment to the underprivileged at a low cost, ensuring that healthcare services remain affordable and accessible to all through E-health and Telemedicine in the remote areas as well.

Advancing healthcare services intertwined with research in the priority areas would  definitely make a difference and promote better outcomes, with an impact for control and policymaking. The additional approaches of Electronic data capture with disease-based Registries would generate meaningful data that allows for population based studies to prioritise, understand, and address women and child health challenges in Pakistan.

VISION

We envision to cater excellence in advancing women and child healthcare through community-focused services, innovative medical practices, and cutting-edge research.

MISSION

We aspire to advance clinical practices and enhance medical knowledge  intertwined with impactful research for women and child health. Promote quality  health care at an affordable cost with the identification of pressing health issues and address challenges in the underserved community with a way forward through electronic health in remote areas.

OBJECTIVES

• To excel in women and child health care through optimal clinical and community services at equitable rates.
• To develop Electronic databases/ Registries in order to identify the prevalence and real time problems faced by the community in relevance to women and child care.
• To conduct cutting-edge research for the development of effective diagnostic tools, treatment modalities, and preventive strategies for maternal and child health issues.
• To collaborate with other healthcare providers and community organisations to ensure comprehensive care and support for national and global perspectives.
• To enhance the competencies of Healthcare providers and researchers through professional development and capacity building.

ORGANISATIONAL PROFILE

Ziauddin University and Dr. Ziauddin Hospital, situated in Karachi, Pakistan, represent a distinguished institution recognised for its commitment to excellence in both healthcare provision and academic endeavours. The establishment is renowned for its unwavering dedication to delivering outstanding medical services and fostering a conducive environment for educational advancement.

Within Ziauddin Hospital, a convergence of state-of-the-art facilities and a cadre of proficient healthcare practitioners enables the delivery of specialised care across a wide spectrum of medical disciplines. Complementing the hospital's pivotal role, Ziauddin University stands as a preeminent centre of learning, renowned for its academic rigour and pioneering research initiatives.

Offering a diverse array of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes encompassing medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and allied health sciences, the university nurtures a cadre of students equipped with the requisite knowledge, skills, and ethical framework requisite for impactful contributions to the healthcare sector.

Through strategic partnerships and collaborative endeavours with Ziauddin Hospital, students are afforded invaluable opportunities for hands-on clinical exposure and engagement in cutting-edge research endeavours, thereby fostering a culture of innovation, professionalism, and ethical conduct.

Collectively, Ziauddin University and Hospital form a dynamic symbiotic entity wherein compassionate patient care harmonises with academic excellence, propelling advancements in healthcare delivery and shaping the future landscape of medicine.

COLLABORATING PARTNERS AT ZIAUDDIN UNIVERSITY

A multidisciplinary team at Ziauddin University consisting of the following departments is participating with the aim of taking forward the mission of Dr. Aijaz Fatima as a tribute to her outstanding services and passion.

Dr. Asim Hussain (SI, NI),Chancellor, Ziauddin University Chairman, Dr. Ziauddin Hospital

Ziauddin University was established to spread knowledge globally and empower Pakistan's youth with international-standard education. We have made significant strides in this journey, providing high quality education in over fifty fields and pioneering digitalization in healthcare. We have brought digitalization not only to academia but also to healthcare. Our prominent accomplishments include introducing Pakistan's first virtual reality dental simulators, Anatomage, and the Cyclotron Vault Building, which has elevated the healthcare sector.

Our latest step forward, the launch of the "Dr. Aijaz Fatima Women & Children Centre," fills me with immense pride. This centre outlines a strategic direction focused on advancing research in women and child health, providing accessible treatment to women and children, and leveraging our research strengths to address high-risk pregnancies.

We aim to contribute to advancements in women and child healthcare practices through cutting-edge research in Paediatrics, Nursing and Midwifery to provide subsidised treatment for the underprivileged.Our vision is to excel in advancing women and child healthcare through community-focused services, innovative medical practices, and cutting-edge research, ultimately enhancing medical knowledge and skills.

We are committed to make a positive impact on women's and children's health and well being.Dr. Aijaz Fatima Women & Children Centre is a significant milestone in our journey, and we are dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the lives of women and children in Pakistan.

Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho Minister for Health Government of Sindh

It is a pleasure to know about the remarkable initiative by Ziauddin University and Dr. Ziauddin Hospitals to establish the Aijaz Fatima Women & Children Centre, holding immense potential for the way forward in women and child health with wide coverage for the identification of challenges and solutions.

It is expected that shaping evidence-based medicine will provide optimal care to the underserved, which will generate actionable insights and evidence for targeted interventions and policymaking. This consortium of multidisciplinary teams operating under the umbrella of AFWCC would definitely amplify health care services by creating research-based evidence.

The Centre’s vision aligns with the national mission to prioritise the health issues of women and children. Advancing healthcare services with an added research perspective through hospital and community engagement would bring about a change that is expected to be reflective in the outcome and performance.

Moreover, the commitment to low-cost quality care and the extension of services to far-flung areas through E-health and Telemedicine are also very commendable.The availability of strong infrastructure and Clinical team of experts, along with the dedicated researchers at Ziauddin University, would definitely augment the quality of health care services. Working in collaboration with Government and Non-Governmental organisations to comprehensively address the healthcare needs of women and children in our population will have an additive effect.

Conclusively, I am confident that the Dr. Aijaz Fatima Women & Children Centre will make a difference and promote affordable, quality healthcare underpinned by rigorous research for solutions.

Dr. Rubina Hussain, MBBS, FCPS, FRCOG, and PHD Scholar. Daughter of Dr. Tajamul Hussain and Dr. Aijaz Fatima

In Loving Memory of Dr. Aijaz Fatima

Today marks a momentous occasion as we inaugurate the Dr. Aijaz Fatima Women and Children Centre—an initiative inspired by the enduring legacy of my beloved mother.She was not only a dedicated doctor but also a compassionate soul whose unwavering resolve was to serve the well-being of women and children.

Her persistent commitment to serving her community and providing quality healthcare to those in need was truly remarkable. Both my parents worked tirelessly to establish Dr. Ziauddin Hospital in 1957 in Karachi, Pakistan. Patient care was their top priority, and they soon established a good reputation. Not only this, but they were also devoted parents, never neglecting their role; they were always there for children, friends and family.

This message is to honour her memory and as we celebrate the opening of this centre bearing her name, I am filled with deep gratitude and pride. This centre stands as a testament to her enduring spirit and her belief in the importance of accessible healthcare for all.

Dr. Aijaz Fatima was passionate about healthcare. Her dedication extended to the empowerment and advancement of women. She had a profound vision for improving education, nursing and healthcare. She recognised the pivotal roles of nurses in delivering quality patient care.

Dr. Fatima was deeply committed to enhancing their skills, knowledge, and professional development, acknowledging their significant contribution to the healthcare sector.  May this centre continue to embody the values and compassion that defined Dr. Aijaz Fatima's legacy. Let us honour her memory by ensuring that her vision of care and kindness lives on through the work we do here.With love and remembrance.

Dr. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta  Robert Harding Chair in Global Child Health & Policy SickKids Centre for Global Child Health, Canada

It gives me the greatest pleasure to pen a few words at the inauguration of the Dr. Aijaz Fatima Women and Children Centre under the auspices of Ziauddin University.

Dr. Shereen and I had the pleasure of knowing Dr. Aijaz Fatima and her dedication to serving the poor women and families of Karachi, and we witnessed firsthand her enormous contribution to supporting quality health services for the poor and middle-class populations of Karachi. Moving to Pakistan in the middle of her medical education from the famous Lady Hardinge Medical College in Delhi, she completed her medical education from Dow Medical College in 1951 and subsequently trained and served at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in Karachi.

In memory of her illustrious father, Dr. Sir Ziauddin Ahmad, one of the founders of the Aligarh movement and a three term Vice Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University, she established the Dr. Ziauddin Hospital in North Nazimabad in 1975 and helped oversee its growth to several campuses and an outstanding Medical University.

Pakistan has some of the worst health and nutrition indicators for women and children in both rural and urban settings, and universities and teaching hospitals bear a huge burden of responsibility for training the human resources needed for the provision of quality services.

The Centre for Women and Children’s Health in Dr. Aijaz Fatima’s name is a most appropriate gesture by her family and well-wishers in extending her legacy.

 I pray fervently for its success, and had my dearest departed Shereen been alive, I am sure she would have been at the forefront of offering her assistance and services to the Centre’s mission. May Allah grant all the Ziauddin University faculty and staff, and especially Dr. Aijaz Fatima’s immediate family, all success and “barakah” in this endeavour, Aameen.

Dr. Shahkamal Hashmi MBBS, MS, MPH, PhD Principal, College of Public Health Core Representative of AFWCC 

The College of Public Health runs Masters in Public Health Programme in two streams and is extensively involved in research and primary  health intervention advocacy in areas of nutrition, maternal and child health, health policy and systems, governance in healthcare, and community mental health.

Our vision states that every mother and child should have access to primary health care services, such as safe delivery practices, prenatal care, and evidence-based treatments for sickness prevention and treatment.

Under AFWCC, the College of Public Health intends to achieve multiple goals and benefits related to identifying healthcare gaps and planning to address them, training and deploying healthcare professionals, surveillance and monitoring to improve the health outcomes, collaboration and partnership with local organisations and stakeholders for the enhancement of AFWCC and providing health education. 

Prof. Dr. Sumbul Sohail

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology is headed by Prof. Dr. Rubina Hussain, renowned for her unwavering dedication and exemplary excellence in her field, has consistently demonstrated a commitment to advancing women's health through both clinical and academic leadership.

To pay tribute to the unwavering legacy, Dr. Aijaz Fatima Women and Children Clinics are established at all Ziauddin Hospitals. The journey began on January 1st, 2024, with the establishment of clinics with subsidised packages, key initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare accessibility and quality.

Prof. Dr. Talat Mirza MBBS, MPhil, PhD Executive Director Research, Meritorious Professor, & HOD Molecular Medicine Core Representative of AFWCC 

The Research Department is a directorate to form a central hub for all research activities by the faculty of health sciences that participate in the policymaking, governance, oversight, and conduct of research processes across ZU.

In this regard, there has been a phenomenal upgradation of the multidisciplinary high technology research laboratories, with a striking uplift in structured postgraduate teaching and training programmes.

Clinical evidence-based research is promoted to investigate disease trends and risk factors, generating data for preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategic planning. The era of precision medicine and personalised therapy has emerged due to technological advances with insight into the molecular genetic mechanisms of diseases. Rooted in our commitment to excellence in education and research, we are at the forefront of the rapidly evolving field of molecular medicine, focusing on the investigation of diseases at the molecular level.

By bridging the gap between basic science and clinical practice, we aim to produce a new generation of physician scientists who are equipped for the advancement of medical knowledge and the improvement of patient care pertaining to women and child health at AFWCC. Based on genetic and molecular profiling, the research would be focused on personalised treatment approaches for evidence-based solutions.

Furthermore, we will provide training to healthcare professionals, researchers, and students and collaborate with other partner departments within the women and children centre, as well as external research institutions and organisations.

We are planning to set up Cardiovascular risk assessment clinics for perimenopause and postmenopausal women.

Epidemiological and Clinical research will be promoted through the Research Department with support in the planning and development of research proposals to generate data for public health support and control of diseases. It will accelerate the advancement of knowledge to favour the promotion of health, improvement of care, and quality of life for women and children.

Published in The Daily National Courier, May, 27 2024

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.