LAHORE: A University of Health Sciences (UHS) Lahore team represented Pakistan at the Annual Conference of the South and Southeast Asia Medical Education and Service Alliance (SSAMESA), held from October 24 to 27, 2024 in China.
The event, hosted by Kunming Medical University (KMU), gathered policymakers and medical education leaders from across the region, including representatives from Malaysia, Nepal, and Thailand.
The UHS delegation led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Ahsan Waheed Rathore, also comprised Prof. Nadia Naseem (Pro-Vice Chancellor), Prof. Sidrah Saleem (Director of Research and Development), and Prof. Allah Rakha (Head of Forensic Medicine).
The conference began with a pre-conference dinner, fostering networking and cultural exchange among South and Southeast Asian medical experts.
On the first day, Prof. Rathore participated in a consultative meeting chaired by SSAMESA President Prof. Xia Xueshan, where he proposed appointing focal persons from each member country to enhance collaboration in medical education and research. He called for a unified strategy to expand research and academic exchange programs to enhance regional health capabilities.
As a goodwill gesture, Prof. Rathore presented shields to Prof. Xia and other representatives from member countries.
The UHS team held a one-on-one meeting with the SSAMESA president and vice president, along with senior officials from KMU’s public health and international affairs departments.
They discussed formalizing an academic and research collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with a focus on public health, nursing, and maternal and child health. An initial step includes inviting a delegation of Pakistani students to China for academic and technical exposure.
During the scientific session, Prof. Sidrah Saleem presented a research paper titled “Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Mcr Gene Carrying Gram-Negative Bacteria – A One Health Approach,” co-authored by Prof. Rathore. The presentation was lauded by the scientific committee for the contributions of the Pakistani research team.
SSAMESA, which includes 52 member institutions, has successfully collaborated on initiatives in talent cultivation, academic exchanges, epidemic prevention, and medical technology training. As a founding member of this alliance, UHS plays a pivotal role in fostering regional cooperation in medical education and healthcare between China and South and Southeast Asian nations.