AKU Child Health

14/04/2026

بی بی سی آئی نے اپنی تحقیق میں ایک سرکاری اسپتال میں علاج کے دوران سنگین خامیوں کی نشاندہی کی ہے۔ یہ وہی اسپتال ہے جس کا تعلق پاکستان میں بچوں میں ایچ آئی وی (ایڈز) جیسا مرض پھیلنے کے ایک بڑے واقعے سے بتایا جارہا ہے۔ پاکستان میں بچوں میں ایچ آئی وی کے خلاف کئی سالوں سے بھرپور کام کرنے والی آغاخان یونیورسٹی اسپتال کی ڈاکٹرفاطمہ میر کا کہنا ہے کہ سامنے آنے والی فوٹیج ملک بھرمیں انفیکشن پرقابو پانے کی ناقص تربیت اور ہمارے نظام میں موجود بڑی کمزوریوں کو واضح طورپرسامنے لارہی ہے۔
متعددی امراض کی ماہرڈاکٹرفاطمہ میر کے مطابق انجکشن صرف اس صورت میں لگانا چاہیے جب جان کو خطرہ ہو۔ پاکستان کا شمار دنیا کے ان ممالک میں ہوتا ہے جہاں غیرضروری انجکشن کا استعمال بہت زیادہ ہے اور اس کا سب سے زیادہ نقصان بچے اٹھارہے ہیں۔
سال 2019 سے اب تک صرف رتو ڈیرومیں ہی 1500 سے زائد بچوں میں ایچ آئی وی کی تشخیص ہوئی ہے جن میں سے زیادہ تربچوں کے والدین کی رپورٹ منفی ہے۔ ڈاکٹر فاطمہ میرکی تحقیق اس بات کی تصدیق کرتی ہے کہ ان میں تقریباً تمام بچوں کو معمولی بیماریوں کے علاج کے لیے بار بار انجکشن لگائے گئے تھے۔
وہ کئی سال سے مسلسل اس خطرے کی نشاندہی کررہی ہیں لیکن اصل سوال اپنی جگہ برقرار ہے کہ کیا واقعی کوئی سُن رہا ہے؟

https://www.instagram.com/p/DXHBlF8jZQE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

13/04/2026

On World Rare Disease Day, Dr. Ambrin Fatima lays out a reality we can’t ignore.

Pakistan carries one of the highest burdens of rare genetic disorders, yet the system to deal with them barely exists.

Microcephaly occurs at nearly 20 times the global rate. The country has just two trained clinical geneticists for over 230 million people. There is no national newborn screening programme. Genetic testing is still treated as a luxury.

At the same time, high rates of consanguinity significantly increase the risk of inherited conditions, while life-saving treatments can cost upwards of $2 million per patient. For most families, that is simply not an option.

The path forward is clear. Prevention, early diagnosis, and access.

Pakistan needs national screening programmes, expanded genetic counseling, and inclusion in global clinical trials.

The science exists. What’s missing is the system to support it.

13/04/2026

We believe in amplifying the work of our colleagues and peers when it comes to public health. This applies to MPOX. Sharing is caring... unless it's ID.

13/04/2026

Exploring the science behind stronger parenting and child health. 💙

Join us for a keynote on the ATTACH™ Parenting Program, where global expert Nicole Letourneau shares insights on trauma-informed care, reflective practice, and evidence-based strategies to support families.

An engaging session that brings together research, real-world application, and hands-on learning.
📅 Thursday, May 07, 2026
📍 AKU Auditorium
⏰ 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM
🔗 Register now: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc0nQTHfX8YXak1Jjw00ew-Ft3exfYFC4BwHqDfj-Z-c-ZODQ/viewform

10/04/2026

Always great to share the work happening behind the scenes. Dr. Karim Damji, Dean of the AKU Medical College, stopped by the IDRL to see our Microbiology and Molecular labs in action.

Dr. Fyezah Jehan and Dr. Imran Nisar led the visit, while our incredible lab leads, Aneeta Hotwani and Dr. Furqan Kabir, along with their amazing teams, took the floor to explain the technology powering our research in Paediatrics and Child Health. It was a great session talking through the capabilities of our Qunasys, GeneXpert, BD Bactec FX40 systems, Hi-throughput Next-generation sequencing technique, Multiplex TaqMan Array Card technique for deciphering Genomics and Advanced Molecular Diagnostics.

09/04/2026

Not every rash is harmless.

Dr. Ali Faisal Saleem highlights how monkeypox can present with larger, deeper, slow-healing lesions that require careful evaluation and timely action.

Key takeaways:
• Don’t ignore unusual or persistent rashes
• Follow strict infection control protocols (isolation, masks, gloves)
• Breastfeeding should continue, even in such infections
• Treatment is mostly supportive and symptom-based
• Vaccination is important for high-risk groups

Awareness is the first line of defense. If symptoms seem unusual, seek medical care immediately.

09/04/2026

Did you know that this month in the last week of April, we celebrate World Immunization Week? Read more about it in first comment

08/04/2026

Speech therapist Ambreen Bano explains how children with autism often face challenges in communication and social interaction, including eye contact and responding to their name. By focusing on simple language, giving children time to respond, and encouraging both understanding and expression, we can help them communicate their needs more effectively.

08/04/2026

کراچی میں رواں سال کے دوران وائرل بیماری منکی پاکس کا دوسرا کیس سامنے آگیا۔ منکی پاکس ایک وائرل بیماری ہے اورپاکستان میں اس کا کوئی مخصوص علاج موجود نہیں ہے، علامات کو دیکھتے ہوئے ضروری اقدامات کیے جاتے ہیں۔
اے کے یو ایچ کی ماہر متعددی امراض (انفیکشئیس ڈیزیز) ڈاکٹر فاطمہ میرکے مطابق احتیاط آپ کو اس بیماری سے بچا سکتی ہے، اس لیے ضروری ہے کہ آپ کو علامات کا علم ہو کیونکہ بغیر دستانے اور ماسک کے مریض کو چھونا خطرناک ہوسکتا ہے۔

https://www.express.pk/story/2807458/another-monkey-pox-case-register-in-karachi-2807458?amp=1

07/04/2026

Karachi's sewers can catch disease before AKU can. Today marks Day 1 of our wastewater surveillance project. What flows in open nullahs in Karachi carries its secrets — infectious disease circulating silently through a population, long before clinics and doctors see the first case.
Our work in Karachi has shown that even semi-formal sewage systems can yield powerful epidemiological signals, from tracking SARS-CoV-2 waves and variant abundance to detecting AMR bacteria, enteroviruses, and poliovirus.
Wastewater-based surveillance is low-cost, non-invasive, and catches what clinical sampling misses — including asymptomatic carriers. This first grab is the start of turning sewage into foresight. More samples, more data, more answers to come. Good luck to the WES team and Dr Imran Nisar!

07/04/2026

Join us this Rare Disease Day at The Aga Khan University as we come together to listen, learn, and stand in solidarity with individuals and families living with rare diseases. In a country where the burden is significant, awareness and empathy can make all the difference.

📅 10th April 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 LH3, AKU Medical College

Hear directly from patients, families, and experts including Dr. Salman Kirmani as they share real experiences, challenges, and hope for the future.

Let’s build awareness, compassion, and a stronger community together.

Register now via the link

Join us this Rare Disease Day to raise awareness, support patients, and advocate for equity in healthcare. Please fill out the form to register. Note: Refreshments will be provided for registered participants. 📍 Venue: Lecture Hall 3 🕘 Time: 5:00-7:00pm 📅 Date: 10th April 2026

06/04/2026

Mealtimes that feel overwhelming.
Words that are repeated, but meaningful.
Siblings who feel everything, but are rarely heard.

Our World Autism Awareness Day session explored:
• ARFID and sensory-based food challenges
• Gestalt language processing and echolalia
• The emotional world of siblings and family dynamics

A conversation grounded in clinical insight, but focused on real lives.

Full session now available.