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Aga Khan University

World cancer day: Meet Kenya's first female breast cancer surgeon

Dr Miriam Mutebi currently works at the Aga Khan Hospital in Kenya. Her achievements include being the first female breast cancer surgeon in Kenya and numerous appointments, including co-chair of a government task force tasked to design an effective cancer management structure in Kenya. She was most recently elected as president of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), a Pan-African multi-disciplinary organisation that builds capacity for cancer advocacy, research and training in Africa. It is the largest and most influential continental organisation involved in the promotion of cancer care and control. Dr Mutebi will hold the position for four years – two as president-elect and the rest as president.

Why palliative care is necessary for all patients

For a long time, it has been misunderstood that palliative care is tailor-made for cancer patients and patients at the end of life. Dr. John Weru, consultant physician for palliative medicine at the Aga Khan University Hospital, offers some insight into it. He says that palliative care aims to improve and maintain a patient’s quality of life so that they can live as actively as possible as they experience an illness. As such, the patient and family form the central unit of focus in palliative care. The palliative care team includes, among others, doctors, nurses, social workers, counselling psychologists, dietitians, and volunteers. Depending on their circumstances, a person may access palliative care for years, months, weeks, or days.

Sindh Govt and AKU will form group to cater to health needs

An interdisciplinary team led by the Aga Khan University (AKU) and the Government of Sindh will address the province's complicated public health issues. Dr Azra Pechuho, the Sindh Minister of Health and Population Welfare, and Sulaiman Shahabuddin, President, AKU, met to agree the terms of the partnership. "The working group will expand the existing relationship between the Sindh Government and AKU on education, research, and public health initiatives," Shahabuddin said. At the meeting, Shahabuddin explained that the university's revenue is reinvested in education and research as well as the Aga Khan University Hospital's efforts to boost healthcare for its patients. 

Prevalence of stroke at alarming level

Experts at an international seminar held at the University of Karachi have expressed serious concerns over rising incidents of stroke in Pakistan, and Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). They noted that stroke was the leading cause of chronic disability and a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Dr. Mohammad Wasay, Professor at the Aga Khan's Section of Neurology, Department of Medicine said, "increased stroke incidents are largely associated with aging and urbanisation and propelled by the increasing prevalence of key risk factors, especially in LMICs, including, inactivity, obesity, dietary factors, diabetes, smoking, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. He said that screening for stroke risk factors provided an excellent opportunity to identify and educate those at high risk.

Alvi calls for focusing on preventive side of health care

Pakistan's President Dr Arif Alvi has stressed the need for technological expertise in the healthcare system, saying that the country’s healthcare system must focus on the preventive side of illness rather than the curative. He made these remarks at a meeting of the senior leadership of the Aga Khan University (AKU) at the AKU’s Centre for Innovation in Medical Education over the weekend. During the meeting, he encouraged the AKU’s faculty and doctors to form a group of visionary thinkers to enhance the healthcare system. The president was earlier briefed on the AKU’s social impact as a national asset by providing services in basic education, outreach health services, examination system and research. Dr Alvi acknowledged the AKU’s services as an icon for Pakistan’s leading hospitals.

Tanzania: Aga Khan Hospital performs first electronic ear implant surgery

The Aga Khan Hospital Dar es Salaam (AKH,D) performed its first Cochlear Implant Surgery on Monday 24 January. Young Danial, a three year old boy has not heard sound all his life, making this a life-changing opportunity for the young boy and his parents. “We are very excited to begin performing this procedure here at AKH,D. The availability of this procedure locally means that patients will not have to travel abroad for this service,” said Mr. Sisawo Konteh, Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital. In addition to this procedure, the Aga Khan Hospital has also been piloting a newborn hearing screening programme since 2018. This involves the use of a quick and simple test to screen babies for hearing loss, usually performed very shortly after birth.

More than 90 percent students across Pakistan underachieving in maths and science: study

More than 90 percent of primary and lower-secondary students in Pakistan have only a weak or basic understanding of the mathematics and science they are required to learn, according to a nationwide study conducted by faculty at the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Educational Development, Pakistan (IED). “Science and mathematics education are in dire need of attention from practitioners and policymakers,” said Assistant Professor Nusrat Fatima Rizvi, a study co-principal investigator. Researchers found that multiple factors were significantly correlated with students’ learning outcomes including high-quality teaching practices and a student’s mother having a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Among the study’s notable findings was that students in monolingual classrooms – where the textbook, teaching and examinations were all in one language – outperformed those in multilingual classrooms.

AKU develops simulator for teaching cardiac procedures

A senior cardiac and thoracic surgeon and his team at the Aga Khan University (AKU) have invented a heart simulator which may go a long way in teaching resident doctors open-heart surgery and other related operations in much better conditions. Dr Saulat Fatmi said that the simulators currently in the market were artificial hearts or hearts which used pneumatic pumps to simulate beating. None could mimic the true heart mechanism and there was no fluid inside the heart to mimic blood. However, after years of failed and tiring attempts, “we are able to invent a beating heart system with magnetic pumps, fluid reservoir and timing device to produce systole and diastole in a cow’s heart”. Dr Fatmi said it had been patented in the United States and the AKU were now ready to modify this to market it on a commercial basis.

UICC launches three-year campaign to create more equitable access to cancer services

On 4 February, the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) will launch a new three-year campaign for World Cancer Day that brings together individuals, organisations and governments around the world in an effort to create awareness and help close the gap in cancer care. The campaign highlights the significant barriers related to socioeconomic factors, stigma and discrimination that prevent many people around the world from accessing life-saving preventive services, diagnostics, treatment and care. Dr Miriam Mutebi, Member of the Board, Union for International Cancer Control and Consultant Breast Surgical Oncologist, Clinical epidemiologist and health systems researcher, Aga Khan University Hospital, Kenya commented that “The Covid-19 pandemic has deepened health inequities and created an even greater need for action to mitigate the adverse impact on cancer incidence and survival. Understanding and addressing the social determinants of health and their impact on cancer can considerably improve outcomes for at-risk populations, particularly for cancers that can be more easily detected and treated such as cervical, breast, colorectal and childhood cancers.”

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