- Concrete measures being taken to improve disease prevention, detection system: Executive Director NIH
By Hamid Khan Wazir
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Health Dr. Faisal Sultan has appreciated the momentous progress of the National Institute of Health (NIH) and its role in the public health security of Pakistan.
Speaking at a Launching Ceremony of three initiatives of the National Health Laboratory, Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) Secretariat, and the Transformation and Excellence Center for Health (TECH) in Islamabad on Thursday, Dr. Faisal Sultan said that the new initiatives of the National Health Laboratory, the GHSA Secretariat, and the TECH will contribute to improve and enhance national health safety and security.
The NIH organized the Launching Ceremony of three initiatives aimed at enhancing the Country’s capacity in the field of the national public health system in preparedness and response.
The National Health Laboratory has been established at the NIH with an aim to enhance the capacity of the country in the diagnostic system of communicable and non-communicable diseases.
The NHL will strengthen national capacities in diagnostics, surveillance, preparedness, and response. This lab will improve our diagnostic services and boost the public health system with cutting edge diagnostic technologies.
It is hoped that Pakistan will test all type of specimen within the Country instead of sending the specimen abroad for diagnostic services
The Launching Ceremony of the GHSA Secretariat at the NIH was also placed during the occasion.
The GHSA Secretarial is established at the NIH with the aim of the new initiative is to improve the ability of the Country to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks in a systematic manner.
Dr. Faisal Sultan also inaugurated the newly established Transformation & Excellence Centre for Health (TECH) at the National Institute of Health.
The TECH has been established with the vision to drive digital transformations of health system and services in Pakistan.
The TECH will guide, support, and develop IT-Centric healthcare delivery projects for the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MoNHSRC).
These projects will ultimately lead to improved health care delivery and health equity in Pakistan.
Speaking to the media, the Executive Director NIH Major General Professor Aamer Ikram said that the NIH has played a pivotal role in COVID-19 preparedness and response being Pakistan’s primer public health institution. He said that scientists and technicians of the NIH have been working hard during COVID response in services of the nation.
Major General Professor Aamer Ikram further said, “Pathogens, microbes and diseases like COVID-19 are moving faster and farther than ever. They do not recognize or stop at national borders. A threat anywhere is indeed a threat everywhere”.
The Executive Director NIH added that the NIH is taking concrete measures in improving the system of disease prevention, detection, and generation of a response to public health events with modern techniques and ease the life of people of Pakistan.
