Invited Talk on Strengthening Health Systems

Introduction:

          Dr Shariq Khoja is a seasoned researcher and high profile leader in the area of eHealth and eLearning. Dr. Khoja has worked as Director for the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) eHealth Resource Centre. He has experience of over 15 years leading Health systems initiatives in developing countries. Dr. Khoja currently leads eHealth initiatives in about 10 countries of South and Central Asia and East Africa. His research interests focus on creating evidence and policies to guide the implementation of eHealth in developing countries. Dr Khoja is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary.

Dr. Shariq Khoja

Event:

          Dr. Shariq visited SEECS in the end of September. ACM-SEECS organized a seminar inviting him to deliver a speech on the role of E-Health in developing countries. The seminar was whether there was a role of E-health in future and also that advancement in Information and Communication Technology is often perceived as an opportunity to strengthen processes and efficiencies of health related activities. Despite high relevance and growing penetration, many of these solutions fail to impact health systems. The question for today is how well the developers and innovators understand health systems and its relevance to the health of the population. How can we collectively ensure that the eHealth solutions not only achieve technology standards, but also ensure impact on strengthening health system and population health?

           The seminar was very useful and many student students participated in this seminar. The seminar concluded with the result that e-health should be promoted to help more people as possible.

Students attending the seminar

Written By: Muhammad Bilal Khan

Membership Drive

Event:

      Our recruitment started immediately after the arrival of the new batch. It was a three day recruitment drive which started from Monday and concluded on Wednesday.

Membership Desk

      Before the start of the recruitment drive we had to publicize our event. The publicity was done use banners, social media and posters. We made events of on Facebook and posted it in different groups providing information about the drive. The posters were posted in different classes on notice boards. Emails were sent on the official mailing address of the students and also providing them a link of Google docs so if someone wanted to register beforehand. Also the website was updated about the recruitment telling about different events that will be going to take place in the coming year.

Membership Banner

      Banners were put up in the university during the recruitment drive. Most questions of the student like “What is ACM?", "What good is it to us?", "How many events are there going to be?", "What sort of events", "Is ACM famous?", "Where do I fit?" were being answered at the registration desk by the already ACM members. And most of the answers were that the IT, CS AND Software students would have access to digital libraries, speakers and workshops. Different events and competitions would be held so that they can make use of their computing skills anyway they can. Pamphlets were handed over to the students who registered so that they could tell their friends who didn't know about it.

ACM Pamphlets

         Last year we had we had about 70 registrations but this year our registrations crossed the 100 mark. Now we have a total of over 500 students who are members of ACM-SEECS chapter. The increase is due to our events which try to help the students in their academics as well as extra-curricular activities and our efforts to make everyone make feel comfortable in what they want to do.

Written By: Anam Wajahat