Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health - South & Central Asia

12/05/2026

11/05/2026

Training days are always hectic

10/05/2026

Happy Mother's Day! At the Centre, we frequently engage with mothers in our projects, where they cooperate with us and give us cricual insights that help us to improve our healthcare facilities, and enhance our research practices.
Thank you to all the mothers who help us make this world a healthier and better place for our children 👶🤰🤱

09/05/2026

'Instead of enjoying the baby's birth, we mourn our babies' - Dr Shabina Ariff speaking at the Recovery and Climate Resilience in Flood-Affected Areas of Pakistan - RENEW Workshop.
50% of the babies in Pakistan die within 24 hours of being born, which is why it is crucial to protect our small and vulnerable newborns.

08/05/2026

The dissemination seminar on the evaluation of the effectiveness of the Benazir Nashonuma Programme on maternal and infant health outcomes was held on 7th May, 2026 at the BISP Auditorium, Islamabad. The seminar brought together government representatives, donors, and development partners to discuss key study findings and programme impact. The results were presented wonderfully by Dr Zulfiqar Bhutta, alongside valuable contributions from Professor Sajid Soofi, Dr. Shah Muhammad and, Imran Ahmed Chauhadry. We are grateful for the presence of Senator H.E. Rubina Khalid [Chairperson, Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP)], Ms. Ayesha Raza Farooq (Coordinator / Focal Person for Polio Eradication), Anita Zaidi (President, Gender Equality Division at Gates Foundation), Mr. Amer Ali Ahmed (Secretary of BISP), Dr. Asim Ijaz [Director General (CCT) from BISP], and other representatives from World Food Programme, UNICEF, World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank Group, and BISP Pakistan

07/05/2026

Last year, the Centre visited District Matiari, Sindh alongside the esteemed Professor Melissa and Professor Phillips from SickKids Foundation - Centre for Global Child Health.

The team visited the AKU Research & Training Centre in Matiari, where they engaged in meaningful discussions about the ongoing maternal and child health research studies and their community impact.

Later, they visited the District Headquarter (DHQ) Hospital to assess the quality of laboratory services and medical equipment, a crucial step in understanding healthcare delivery at the grassroot level.

One of the most interactive parts of the day was a Q&A session with pregnant women, conducted with the support of a local Lady Health Worker (LHW). Listening to their experiences and perspectives highlighted the importance of strengthening community health systems.

The trip concluded with a warm and productive lunch meeting with the Health Minister of Matiari and our dedicated team, exchanging ideas and discussing future collaborations.

This visit was an inspiring exposure, especially working alongside Professor Melissa Richard-Greenblatt, & Professor Pierre Philippe Clermont Piché-Renaud, whose dedication to global child health is truly admirable.

06/05/2026

We spent a day with the field staff of Third-Party Verification Immunization Coverage Survey (TPVICS), as they continued with their line listing for round 3, in Surjani town, Karachi.
Our dedicated field staff works hard in the sweltering heat, making sure all residents of the area are aware of the survey, and give the correct information to streamline the immunization process for everyone.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance Gates Foundation The Expanded Programme on Immunization - Pakistan

05/05/2026

Dr Shabina Ariff speaking on the identification of small and vulnerable newborns and how they are 'physiologically fragile' at the Recovery and Climate Resilience in Flood-Affected Areas of Pakistan (RENEW) master trainer training. Stay tuned for more parts of the lecture!

04/05/2026

Celebrating excellence in immunisation! 🌟

The vaccinators of the Aga Khan University’s Centre of Excellence in Women & Child Health have been proudly recognised by the Provincial Expanded Program on Immunisation (EPI), Balochistan, for their outstanding performance in Quarter-1 2026.

This recognition highlights the dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment of our frontline teams who continue to ensure that life-saving vaccines reach every child, even in the most challenging settings. Their efforts are a testament to the power of community-based healthcare and the impact of strong partnerships.

Vaccinators from Chaman, Hub, Usta Muhammad, Zhob, Sibbi, and Mastung districts were awarded certificates in acknowledgment of their exceptional service and contribution to strengthening routine immunisation across Balochistan.

At Aga Khan University, we remain committed to supporting and strengthening health systems and immunization program that protect and improve the lives of mothers and children.

The Expanded Programme on Immunization - Pakistan Gates Foundation UNICEF Pakistan World Health Organization (WHO)
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative

01/05/2026

the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Aga Khan University's Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, East Africa (CoEWCH, EA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the first WHO collaborative initiative in Africa focused on women's cancers, particularly breast and cervical cancer. The initiative will advance work across three key pillars: evidence generation and synthesis, capacity building, and implementation research. Together, these efforts aim to bridge the gap between global normative standards and the realities of delivering health interventions in low- and middle-income settings.

Read more: https://www.aku.edu/news/Pages/News_Details.aspx?nid=NEWS-003832

Photo: World Health Organization (WHO)

01/05/2026

Collaborative Engagement on Strengthening Routine Immunization in Pakistan 🇵🇰

Center of Excellence in Women and Child Health at Aga Khan University in collaboration with partners, had the privilege of hosting a high-level delegation from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, for a comprehensive technical engagement focused on strengthening immunization systems & advancing evidence-driven decision-making in Pakistan.

Gavi delegation included Adriana Cuen, Carrie Gheen, Craig, & Ibrahim Muhammad, who engaged with AKU & partner teams in insightful discussions & knowledge exchange.

Key highlights from the session:

🔹 Strengthening Nutrition & Immunization Support Project
Presented by the Aga Khan Foundation team, this multi-regional initiative across Balochistan, Sindh, and Gilgit-Baltistan, implemented in collaboration with AKU and Aga Khan Health Services is focused on improving access and service delivery for underserved populations through integrated nutrition and immunization efforts, with support from Gavi, Aga Khan Foundation and the Power of Nutrition.

🔹 Private Sector Engagement in Sindh
AKU Community Health Sciences team shared progress on its partnership with the Government of Sindh in Karachi, showcasing innovative approaches to improving access, quality, and efficiency in urban health service delivery.

🔹 TPVICS – A Flagship Evaluation Initiative
With support from Gavi and the Gates Foundation, CoE-WCH team presented updates on the Third-Party Verification Immunisation Coverage Survey, one of Pakistan’s largest immunization surveys designed to generate critical district-level evidence on coverage and gaps.

🔹 Immunisation Gap Study Findings
An engaging discussion followed on key findings from the Immunisation Gap Study, highlighting regional disparities & identifying actionable strategies to improve equitable immunization coverage across the country.

This engagement reflected the power of collaboration bringing together global partners, academia, & implementation teams to strengthen systems, generate evidence, & drive meaningful impact.