FJMU moot stresses gender equality, health equity to meet SDGs

LAHORE: Fatima Jinnah Medical University Vice-Chancellor Profr Khalid Masood Gondal has called for strengthening the capacity of Pakistan’s health workforce from a gender equality and health equity perspective to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Universal Health Coverage.
He was speaking at a seminar titled "Advancing Gender Equality, Human Rights, and Health Equity Mainstreaming Across the Health Sector in Punjab," organised with the support of the World Health Organisation (WHO) at FJMU’s Lecture Hall 2.
A recipient of the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz and Presidential Pride of Performance awards, Prof Gondal underscored the need for equipping healthcare professionals with essential knowledge to address gender equality and human rights issues, particularly in primary healthcare. He said this approach is critical for improving healthcare delivery and achieving health equity in Pakistan.
Dr Gondal called for multi-sectoral engagement to address social determinants of health and thanked the WHO for supporting efforts to engage academia, students, and faculty in promoting these values.
The seminar featured a distinguished panel of speakers, including Dr Jamshaid Ahmed, Head of the WHO Sub-Office, FJMU Alumni (UK) Dr Varda Shafi, broadcast journalist and Lahore College for Women University faculty member Dr Arsha Saleem Meer, WHO technical officers Dr Yahya Gulzar and Dr Irfan Ahmed, Head of Community Medicine FJMU Dr Taskeen Zahra, District Health Authority Lahore official Tahira Maryam, and academician Dr Shehla Akram.
The event, attended by MBBS and postgraduate students, nursing trainees, faculty, and health education teams from Lahore, formed part of the Global 16 Days Campaign of Activism (25 November – 10 December). This campaign raises awareness on human rights, violence against women, rights of persons with disabilities, health equity, World AIDS Day, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Dr Jamshaid Ahmed highlighted the pressing challenges in Pakistan, saying that nearly half the population lacks access to essential health services. He stressed the need for gender-responsive and equity-based healthcare approaches to achieve Universal Health Coverage.
WHO Technical Officer Dr Irfan Ahmed presented data on gender-based violence and its adverse health impacts, pointing out that barriers such as gender inequality and discrimination disproportionately affect women, people with disabilities (16pc of the global population), refugees, migrants (12pc), and Indigenous Peoples (6pc).
FJMU Alumni Dr Varda Shafi emphasised the importance of integrating communication strategies for vulnerable groups into broader health policies. “Discrimination, human rights violations, poverty, and other social determinants exacerbate disparities, limiting access to quality care and worsening physical and mental health outcomes,” she stated.
Broadcast journalist and academician Dr Arsha Saleem Meer noted that achieving the goal of "Health for All" requires systematically identifying marginalised groups, addressing root causes of inequity, and revising policies to meet their health needs.