Karachi (Muhammad Yasir) The Medical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan (MMIDSP) has launched a free-of-cost online training course to upskill medical professionals across Pakistan regarding infection prevention & control (IPC) protocols. The course launching ceremony was held on August 26, 2021 at Isolation Hospital and Infections Treatment Center (IHITC) Islamabad, an institution which is rapidly evolving into a hub of teaching, training and telementoring activities in Pakistan. MMIDSP is the IPC training body for the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC), and to develop the course it has joined hands with Foundation for Youth Employment Pakistan licensee of Generation: You Employed (GYE), a leading global non-profit in the training & employment space that has launched similar programs to benefit over 260,000 healthcare professionals. The Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) is also a key partner of this project, providing online hosting facilities and CME course accreditation. The course is designed to be completed in just under 4 hours, including 5 Modules with video demonstrations, reading materials, and assessments. Upon completion of the final assessment, all participants are eligible to claim CME credit as the course has been accredited by DUHS. Professor Bushra Jamil, President, MMIDSP and one of the pioneering forces in infection control in Pakistan commented, “Initiatives such as this IPC course can go a long way in combating infections through the understanding of safety protocols for health professionals by the way of engaging content and involvement from leading experts.”
The Chief Guest on the occasion, Dr Nausheen Hamid, Parliamentary Secretary for Health, reiterated government’s resolve to improve quality of healthcare in Pakistan and through focus on IPC, making all healthcare facilities safe for both patients and healthcare professionals. The course is available online and is free to register for all participants on the DUHS website.