Ziauddin University wins second place in Macjannet prize for global citizenship
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In 2016 Ziauddin University Karachi earned the 2nd place in the prestigious MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship, for its Sikanderabad – Ziauddin Community partnership initiative. The concept of Community-Academia partnership was initiated in 1997 with the establishment of Ziauddin University as a policy decision to increase access to healthcare for its nearby population. Professor N.A. Jafarey the 1st Vice Chancellor of the university was strong proponent of civic engagement of academic institutions. In pursuance of this objective, the Department of Family Medicine was formed with principles of Community Family Medicine as core guidelines. Thereafter contacts were established with the adjoining community of Sikanderabad, a squatter settlement of presently having approximately 100,000 inhabitants. The engagement between Ziauddin’s University students of multiple disciplines, the team from the department of Family Medicine and Community Health Sciences together with the Sikanderabad community has resulted in the development of strategic guidelines for comprehensive health care delivery.
The program is run inside a primary health care center donated by the community. Community members and university students from the faculties of medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy and pharmacy work collaboratively to provide primary health care. Though the center is open to everyone, women are the main beneficiaries. The mutual trust and teamwork have facilitated the implementation of various programs that has led to increased utilization of services and equitable access to healthcare and to making in-roads in the areas of adult Female Literacy and vocational training; resulting in continued efforts in community empowerment and the development of a self-sustainable and replicable, indigenous model of health care. The global award winning health care program has ensured in the successful immunization drives through door-to-door student campaigns, significantly helping to raise the community’s awareness of health issues and interest these endeavors have led Sikandarabad to stand as a polio free area. Ziauddin University student’s civic initiatives organized form time to time through their organizations such as KARA and AIDS has helped in building bridges in striving to achieve health objectives, with community fully engaged and empowered.