Prof Dr. Inayat H. Thaver
(MBBS, DCH, MCPS (Paeds),
FCPS (Com. Med), MSc. (MCH-Lond) & PhD (London)
Head of Community Health Sciences
To become a knowledge and creativity driven international university that contributes towards development of society.
The Community Health Sciences (CHS) is a discipline concerned with the study and improvement of the health characteristics of different communities. Community health focuses on geographical areas, including primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare. Thus, the Department of CHS is endeavoring to train, research, and support health services to improve the health status of the Pakistani population by producing graduates who can work effectively and efficiently within the constraints of the health system. Graduates are equipped with research and lifelong learning skills to identify and manage health-related problems of families and communities based on scientific evidence. Thus, besides learning clinical skills for treating various diseases, a graduate also develops skills in preventing diseases and promoting good health.
The CHS curriculum covers Pakistan's priority health concerns and emerging global health issues that can impact the health of the Pakistani population. The curriculum has been designed in modular form. It includes PHC and PHC technologies, Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Demography, Survey Methodology, Research Methodology, Health System Evaluation, Immunization, and causes of common conditions and prevention such as Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI), diarrhea, malnutrition, reproductive health issues. The department of CHS also deals with infections that are prevalent or emerging in societies, occupational hazards and natural disasters, and emerging global health issues.
One of the hallmarks of the CHS Department is the organization of ‘field visits’ of groups of students for the application of theoretical concepts. Thus, it exposes the students to the primary health care system and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working to improve the health of concerned communities within Karachi and surrounding catchment areas. The Department also intends to develop a field site for medical students' training in primary health care settings. Another focus of the CHS department is to offer hands-on training to students for conducting independent research. In small groups, students undertake research projects on common medical/health problems, lifestyles, traditions, and socioeconomic factors affecting the health of families and communities. Faculty members supervise the projects and ensure that theoretical research concepts are applied in students’ research studies. This practical application of research skills equips our students to tackle real-world health challenges, making a tangible difference in the communities they serve. Continuous feedforwards, presentation of projects before a larger audience, and evaluation are important components of student research activity, further enhancing their preparedness for the field.
The Department of Community Health Sciences is teaching undergraduate students in four out of 5 years of teaching, a clear indication of the priority and importance given to this Department by BUHS. The Department also supports the teaching of other disciplines and courses within the BUHS, fostering an interdisciplinary approach to learning and ensuring that students receive a holistic education. Recently, a “Students Research Forum” (SRF) was launched to develop a research culture among students. The process has commenced, and further updates will be shared soon. In addition, The CHS has commenced a PhD-Public Health Program from 2023; two batches of post-graduate students have already been enrolled. It is aimed that this initiative will result in preparing the trained researchers as well as academicians for Pakistan.
