KARACHI: Aga Khan University (AKU) has introduced a series of free online nutrition courses tailored for healthcare professionals in Pakistan.
This initiative is part of the IGNIT3 project, which aims to enhance the skills of healthcare workers in addressing critical nutritional challenges, particularly those affecting women, children, and adolescents.
By offering accessible and interactive training, AKU seeks to empower healthcare providers with the knowledge necessary to incorporate effective nutrition care into their practices, ultimately improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations across the country.
The IGNIT3 project—standing for “Increase Gains in Nutrition by Integration, Education, Evaluation & Empowerment”—is a collaborative five-year initiative that launched in 2023, focused on improving nutrition services in Pakistan, Ghana, and Malawi. It is funded by Global Affairs Canada.
In Pakistan, the project is implemented by the Institute for Global Health & Development (IGHD) in partnership with the Centre for Global Child Health at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Nutrition International, and WaterAid Pakistan.
The newly launched course suite, titled “Nutrition for Health Professionals in Pakistan: Assessing, Managing, and Promoting Child, Adolescent & Maternal Nutrition,” offers interactive training specifically designed for the needs of Pakistan’s healthcare system.
Targeting doctors, dietitians, nurses, and midwives, these courses equip professionals with practical skills to integrate nutrition care into their clinical practices. They emphasize the connections between gender, environment, and nutrition, aiming to deliver equitable healthcare while addressing the unique challenges faced in Pakistan.
Available on the World Continuing Education Alliance (WCEA) platform, these mobile-friendly courses can be accessed from any device, with offline options for added convenience. Participants will receive certificates accredited by the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Pakistan Medical Council upon completion.
Dr. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, founding director of IGHD and co-director of the SickKids Centre for Global Child Health, stated, “These courses, developed in collaboration with leading experts, are specifically designed to tackle the significant challenges we face in enhancing nutrition within our healthcare systems.”
The IGNIT3 courses are poised to play a crucial role in improving child, adolescent, and maternal nutrition care, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes for Pakistan’s most vulnerable populations.
Healthcare professionals interested in the program can register at wcea.education/register by selecting Pakistan and their respective organizations.
