Zahedan University of Medical Sciences

Report from: ZAUMS Public Relations & International Affairs Office
Published on: 1 February 2023

In order to strengthen health cooperation and health diplomacy, on Monday, January 16, 2023, a delegation from Iran"s Ministry of Health and Medical Education, including Dr. Malek Fazli, the Representative of the respected people of Saravan city in the Islamic Consultative Assembly (i.e. the Iranian Parliament), Dr. Ghaznavi, Chancellor of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences (ZAUMS), Dr. Seyed Mehdi Tabatabaei, Advisor to the Chancellor of ZAUMS for International Affairs, Dr. Saberi, Director of Health Technology Development, ZAUMS, and Mrs. Farzadeghi, senior expert in international relations, Iran"s Ministry of Health, met with Her Excellency Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Provincial Minister of Sindh for Health, and Population Welfare, Pakistan and Mr. Muhammad Qasim Soomro, Parliamentary Secretary Health of Sindh State, Government of Sindh, Pakistan.

In this meeting, Dr. Fazeli (representative of Saravan city in the Islamic Council) emphasized the history of ethnic, religious and commercial relations between Iran and Pakistan, as well as the importance of strengthening these relations to achieve the goals of the two countries" health systems.

He called the agreements made in the form of health cooperation of Group 5, which was formed and continued to work at the initiative of the Ministry of Health of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2005, as a great opportunity to promote sub regional cooperation in health.

Dr. Ghaznavi emphasized the importance of exchanging experiences and close cooperation between the two countries to manage and solve health problems in the region, especially infectious diseases, including vector-borne diseases like dengue fever and malaria.

Dr. Pechuho, Provincial Minister of Sindh for Health, and Population Welfare, presented a report on the measures and progress as well as the challenges of public health in the Sindh Province with a focus on communicable diseases, including malaria, tuberculosis, and management of IV infection in newborn babies, dengue fever, and typhoid. She also mentioned the challenges in the health, laboratory and educational infrastructure as well as the high incidence of thalassemia disease in Sindh state and the readiness of Sindh Ministry of Health for the development of regional cooperation.

At the end of the meeting, the following areas were agreed upon for follow up and planning:

• The Health Department of Sindh will conduct a short training course on entomological surveillance of dengue fever vectors for entomological expert delegation from Zahedan University of Medical Sciences.
  
• Medical doctors and specialists with experience in the treatment of patients with dengue fever will conduct a training workshop on the diagnosis, treatment and nursing care of dengue fever in Zahedan, Iran.
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• Virtual and in-person expert meetings will be held in order to exchange experiences regarding malaria elimination and tuberculosis and vaccine preventable diseases control activities.
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• Considering the high incidence of beta thalassemia in the Sindh Province and the success of the thalassemia disease control program in Iran and the successful activity of the Prenatal Diagnosis Laboratory (PND) of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, an expert team from the Health Department of Sindh will visit ZAUMS in order to exchange experiences and explore areas for cooperation regarding Beta Thalassemia Control Program in Iran.
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• Both parties agreed to collaborate in consultations, meetings, and scientific conferences, public health research and development as authorized

Other priorities for cooperation also may be identified by mutual consent of the Participants.

Copyright © 2023 Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved. Date updated: 01/02/2023
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