Daily Times

Poverty Eradication Initiative (PEI) organized its Clinical Skills Enhancement Trainings for hospital-based healthcare providers at Center for Innovation in Medical Education (CIME) Building, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) , Karachi.

Last day of the event certificate distribution ceremony for “Master Trainers” of the training program was conducted by Sindh Health Secretary Dr. Usman Chachar, and attended by AKUH Associate Dean Dr. Asim, CMO , and PEI General Manager Operations (GMO) Syed Gohar Ali Shah.

Poverty Eradication Initiative (PEI) was created in 2002 as a non-profit, non-political organization in order to reduce poverty burden in Pakistan. It is working in all 29 districts of Sindh under Sindh Peoples Health Program (SPHP), a collaborative effort by PEI and Department of Health, Sindh under its Public Private Partnership Node.

The program aims to implement Universal Health Coverage (UHC) approach to strengthen the health systems in Sindh. Universal access to health means that all people can use health services whenever they need them in their lives without increased financial burden thus reducing out of pocket payments.

One such effort to decrease financial burden on citizens is the provision of medical and surgical supplies to 200 public sector hospitals across Sindh to improve quality medical services, especially for the poorest members of the community. PEI has already established 40 ‘Mrs. Shamshad Masood Memorial Counters’ at participating hospitals to facilitate poorest of the poor attending both out and in-patient facilities.

While delivering his address at the certificate distribution ceremony, Sindh Health Secretary Dr. Usman Chachar appreciated PEI’s efforts and said that the partnership of PEI with department of health was going to be very fruitful. “It is an additional support and we should use this opportunity wisely and get the best of our staff trained on the state of the art international standard supplies provided by the PEI,” said Usman Chachar.

PEI GMO Gohar Ali Shah, said that PEI’s services were directed towards welfare of the poor and its aim was to provide to public hospitals, the same facilities that the rich had access to in private hospitals. He mentioned that SPHP was not donor driven and explained that the supplies will continue to come in even after 20 years. “We will continue to help government of Sindh to improve the health facilities at government hospitals,” said Gohar Ali Shah during his address.

Speaking to the audience, SPHP Program Manager Dr. Qadeer Ahsan said , “We are working with hospitals across Sindh to standardized health care services and align them with international best practices.” He said that SPHP program in collaboration with the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) had developed “Clinical Skills Enhancement Training for Health Care Providers” in order to equip the healthcare providers with useful knowledge and tools to impart cascade trainings.

On the occasion, Dr. Misbah Muneer also took the podium to brief the audience about the training program. “In relation to provision of medical and surgical supplies, SPHP ensures that supplies are fully and appropriately utilized by healthcare providers,” said Dr Misbah Muneer. She explained that under the training program, a pool of healthcare providers was being trained as ‘master trainers’ to assess the learning needs of healthcare providers in each hospital and trickle down trainings accordingly.

“These master trainers will then be equipped with the knowledge and tools to impart cascade trainings at their respective facilities and promote peer to peer learning. The master trainers will also ensure quality healthcare practices as per internationally accredited healthcare standards. The fourth round of these trainings has now been completed,” Dr Misbah Muneer informed the audience.

Published in Daily Times, July 8^th 2018.