Director, Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

The Aga Khan University (AKU) is a pioneering institution of higher education whose mission is to improve the quality of life in the developing world and beyond, through world-class teaching, research, and healthcare delivery. AKU educates students for local and global leadership roles from campuses and teaching hospitals in six countries, primarily in Asia and Africa. It generates new knowledge to solve problems that affect millions of people, especially the most vulnerable. The University is a private, not-for-profit institution and part of the Aga Khan Development Network.

The Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health builds on the vision of the Chancellor of the Aga Khan University, His Highness the Aga Khan. The cross-university Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health serves as a platform for exchange of ideas, and for the development of highly relevant and impactful research and training programmes to serve the needs of the AKDN and the developing world. It provides a platform for academic and research activities related to several entities and contributing departments including:

• AKU-based health sciences programmes
• AKU Medical Colleges in Pakistan and East Africa
• AKU Schools of Nursing & Midwifery in Pakistan and East Africa
• Aga Khan Health Services in Pakistan, Afghanistan & Central Asia and East Africa
• Other AKDN partners.

The Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health (CoE WCH) of the Aga Khan University represents one of the most exciting academic platforms of its kind globally, with a focus on integrated academic programmes and research. It also has a special interest in evidence-based advocacy and capacity development impacting health worker training in geographies and populations in greatest need in relation to women, child health and nutrition. In recent years, the CoE WCH has also focused on issues of sexual and reproductive health as well as adolescent health and wellbeing, and is increasingly positioning itself as a think tank for the Aga Khan University and the Aga Khan Development Network related to these issues.

The Centre has always worked to create synergies among the various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, National Program for Family Planning and Primary Healthcare (LHW Programme), Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Program (MNCH), and federal, provincial, and local district administrations and health authorities.

The CoE WCH and its key constituent bodies represent flagship research programmes on reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH). The Centre is well-placed to address priority research issues of relevance to women and children in developing countries, with a large existing portfolio of work related to infectious diseases, perinatal health and outcomes, maternal and child nutrition, and early childhood development.

There is a great focus at the CoE WCH on high quality, high impact and relevant research aimed at improving clinical services and education, with longer term potential influence on national and international policies.