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Public Health Initiatives
The Community Health Directorate of IHHN is running several public health initiatives to tackle the pressing healthcare challenges of Pakistan. These are data-driven programs which are aimed at reducing the disease burden of prevalent diseases in Pakistan.
Diabetes Management
The Diabetes Management Program (DMP) assists patients in managing their Diabetes. It aims to reduce and delay the onset of complications of Diabetes by providing better control and surveillance. The Diabetes Management Program began its clinical services at Korangi Campus in September 2014. DMP has been integrated with PCP for better facilitation. DMP dispenses free insulin to patients. Since 2014, 13,000 patients have been enrolled in this program successfully.
HIV Program
IHNN, Korangi launched an HIV Program in 2016, which focuses on people who inject drugs affected by HIV. This holistic program includes psychosocial counselling and staff support in the form of Field workers who ensure timely medication and follow-ups.
Hepatitis Control Program
According to the Lancet, Pakistan has the second highest burden of Hepatitis C globally. Thus, IHNN launched its Hepatitis Control Program in 2016 to curtail chronic Hepatitis through community and facility-based prevention, screening initiatives, and timely treatment.
Centre for Essential Surgery
The Centre for Essential Surgery is running the Safe Circumcision Program, Pehla Qadam-Clubfoot program and the Vascular Anomalies Center.
Safe Circumcision Program
The program uses the concept of ‘task sharing’ in which pediatric surgeons train community health workers, technicians, and midwives to perform safe circumcision on male babies under three months. The program has been implemented at the Sheikh Saeed Memorial Campus, Karachi, since June 2016, and RTEH, Muzaffargarh, since December 2017. 3,541 babies were circumcised at both sites, and 17 healthcare workers were trained
Pehla Qadam-Clubfoot Program
This program provides treatment for Clubfoot using the Ponseti method. Since its inception in 2011, more than 1,000 patients have been enrolled in the program and more than 250 patients have completed treatment. The program has been implemented at Korangi Campus, since August 2011; RTEH, since December 2017; THQ Manawan, since October 2017; DHQ, Badin, since February 2019; Taluka Hospital, Kandh kot, since 2020.
Vascular Anomalies Center
Vascular anomalies are complex conditions commonly seen in children and can be disfiguring. As the first step towards this initiative, a pulsed dye laser machine- V Beam Perfecta, was donated to Korangi Campus in January 2017 to treat vascular anomalies. The program started at Korangi Campus in January 2017 and RTEH in March 2021.
Lung Health Program
In 2018, IHHN established its Lung Health Program to respond to the country’s significant morbidity and mortality associated with chronic respiratory diseases. The program offers high-quality services for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of Lung diseases in Pakistan. The Lung Health Program is running multiple projects:
Tobacco Control
In 2020-21, LHP partnered with Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids to emphasize youth empowerment and tobacco control. LHP has also launched Voices Against Tobacco (VAT) – an initiative to create a dialogue about the need for meaningful change to improve tobacco control measures in Pakistan. In collaboration with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, VAT will invest in school children by conducting capacity-building exercises in tobacco control.
Obstructive Lung Disease
Obstructive Lung Diseases (OLD), such as Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases, are among primary care clinics’ most common complaints. The OLD program provides specialist education and spirometry services to patients. The program expanded to Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani primary care facility in 2020 and RTEH in 2021.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PuRe) provides multidisciplinary treatment for breathless patients with chronic respiratory diseases. COVID survivors with breathlessness have also been enrolled since January 2021.
Mental Health
Since PCP aims to provide holistic healthcare which encompasses all aspects of wellness, the IHNN provides mental health counselling services across 9 primary sites with the aid of 24 community mental health officers. Until now, 130,006 patients have been screened for depression and anxiety while 4,162 patients have been given counselling services. IHNN also provides counselling through the Psychosocial counselling department where patients suffering from trauma or social stigma due to the nature of their disease eg. Cancer, HIV are given mental health support.
Hypertension Screening and Management Program
Hypertension is a lifelong chronic disease and is highly prevalent. The overarching objective of this program is to increase the hypertension control rate by 50% from baseline by the end of 2022. The program is functional at Community Health Center, Khorwah, Badin Campus, Korangi Campus, Al-Ghazi Trust Campus, Bhong.
Maternal, Neonatal, Child Health and Nutrition Program
The Maternal, Neonatal, Child Health (MNCH & N) program has been an integral part of PCP. This program is running the following projects: Expanded Program on Immunization, Nutrition Program, Lactation Management Program, Safe Delivery Program, Deworming Program, Family Planning, Integrated Management of Childhood Illness, Childhood Pneumonia and Midwifery Program.
Community Engagement Center
This initiative empowers local communities at the grassroots level through awareness and training sessions. Under this program, we have trained more than 500 people including Community Health Workers, Mental Health Counsellors, Programmatic Personnel, and Institutional Partner Staff. More than 151,528 community members have also been engaged in an array of diverse topics such as Childhood Cancer, Health & Hygiene, Mental Health, Hepatitis C, and Vector diseases such as Malaria and Dengue.