KARACHI / NEW ORLEANS: Dr Fyezah Jehan, Chair of Paediatrics and Child Health at the Aga Khan University (AKU), has been named a Distinguished International Fellow by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) for her exceptional contributions to research, advocacy, and service in the fields of maternal and child malnutrition and infectious diseases.
The award was presented during the Society's annual meeting in New Orleans by ASTMH President Dr Linnie Golightly and CEO Jamie Bay Nishi. It honours non-American citizens for their outstanding achievements in tropical medicine and hygiene.
Dr Fyezah has spearheaded transformative initiatives, including delivering ready-to-use supplemental foods to over 10,000 at-risk women and children in Karachi’s peri-urban clinics. Her collaboration with Rotary International and the Trust for Malnutrition has enhanced the early diagnosis and management of malnutrition, earning her the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow recognition.
As principal investigator of the MUMTA trial, she led research into the effects of balanced energy protein supplements and micronutrients on pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this pioneering study examines the role of maternal nutrition in fostering early brain development.
Dr Fyezah’s contributions extend to the Alliance for Maternal and Newborn Health Improvement (AMANHI) biobank, a collaborative effort with the World Health Organisation and partners across South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
The first population-level biobank for pregnancy and newborn health, AMANHI advances research into adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes.
Her work has also reshaped pneumonia treatment guidelines, curbing unnecessary antibiotic use and resistance. With over 100 published papers on vaccine equity, child health, and infectious diseases, Dr Fyezah’s contributions have earned her international acclaim.
She is the second Pakistani and AKU faculty member to receive this honour, following Dr Zulfiqar Bhutta in 2018.