KARACHI: Bakhabar Noujawan, an online course designed to empower people to make informed decisions regarding their health, overall well-being, and their role as responsible community members should be made mandatory in medical schools, emphasising the importance of healthcare providers being well-informed on these topics before entering practice.
Dr Saad Niaz, the Caretaker Minister of Health in Sindh, recently held a meeting with the National Committee for Maternal and Neonatal Health (NCMNH). The meeting was attended by key figures including Secretary of Health, Sohail Qureshi, Dr. Sadia Ahsan Pal, Dr. Azra Ahsan, and Dr. Marium Waqas.
The discussion revolved around "Bakhabar Noujawan," a platform designed to provide knowledge on various life-related matters that individuals may encounter.
NCMNH, which has now completed 29 years of operation, in collaboration with its implementing partner, the Association for Mothers and Newborns (AMAN), has been instrumental in the creation of "Bakhabar Noujawan,".
During the meeting, it was highlighted that this online course consists of 26 modules aimed at increasing awareness among individuals aged 15 to 29. The modules cover a wide range of topics, including family planning, child labor, child marriage, emergency contraceptives, cervical cancer prevention through vaccination, and Pap smears, among others.
Dr Azra Ahsan added that the course has received endorsement from the Federal Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation, and Coordination, and she encouraged the Sindh government to endorse it as well.
NCMNH has also approached the World Health Organization (WHO) for support in translating the Bakhabar Noujawan online course into Urdu and Sindhi.
Dr Sadia Pal mentioned that the next step is to seek endorsement from NADRA for registering Nikah nama (marriage certificates) upon the presentation of completion certificates from this online course.
The meeting expressed concern over rates of maternal and child mortality in the province, and poor quality of care in healthcare facilities. Postpartum hemorrhage was identified as the leading cause of maternal mortality, and guidelines for its prevention and management are now accessible online through NCMNH's website.
Furthermore, it was discussed that Well Women Clinics, staffed by female healthcare providers, will play a pivotal role in addressing issues such as breast cancer, family planning, and reproductive health while raising awareness among women.
Dr Saad Niaz emphasised the importance of incorporating LED displays in healthcare facilities that can convey messages in regional languages, focusing on family planning, disease screening, nutrition, breast cancer, and other critical health topics.
Bakhabar Naujawan course is not limited to a specific gender; it is beneficial for every teenager and adult seeking fundamental insights into life-related matters.
