ISLAMABAD: In view of malnutrition faced by children and adolescent girls in the country, the Aga Khan University (AKU) has launched free, online nutrition courses for healthcare professionals.

The courses will be conducted by the Institute for Global Health and Development (IGHD) of the AKU.

These courses are part of the IGNIT3 initiative, a project aimed at empowering health professionals to provide essential nutrition care particularly for women, children, and adolescent girls.

The project ‘Increase Gains in Nutrition by Integration, Education, Evaluation and Empowerment’ (IGNIT3) is a collaborative, five-year capacity-building initiative launched in 2023.

Focused on improving nutrition services in Pakistan, Ghana and Malawi, the project is funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented in Pakistan by IGHD in partnership with the Centre for Global Child Health at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Nutrition International, and WaterAid Pakistan.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Zulfiqar A. Bhutta of IGHD said the courses had been designed in context of Pakistan to address the local challenges.

These offer accessible, interactive training tailored to Pakistan’s healthcare needs. It is targeted at doctors, dietitians, nurses, and midwives. The courses equip professionals with practical skills to integrate nutrition care into their clinical practices.

By highlighting the connections between gender, environment, and nutrition, the courses aim to deliver equitable care and address Pakistan’s unique healthcare challenges.

Available on the World Continuing Education Alliance (WCEA) platform, these mobile-friendly courses allow participants to access content from any device with offline options for increase flexibility.

Upon completion, participants will receive certificates accredited by the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Pakistan Medical Council.

IGNIT3’s courses will play a vital role in strengthening child, adolescent and maternal nutrition care, contributing to improved health outcomes for Pakistan’s most vulnerable populations.

Health professionals interested in the programme can register at wcea.education/register by selecting Pakistan and their respective organisations.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2024