Webinar on Status of STI in the OIC Region by His Excellency Prof. Dr. Adnan Badran
Date : 22nd June 2020,
Time: 03:00 pm Pakistan Standard Time ; 01:00 pm Jordan Standard Time; 10:00 am Greenwich Mean Time
Former Prime Minster, Jordan, Ex – Deputy Director General UNESCO Chancellor, University of Petra
International Seminar on COVID-19 Title: “Pakistan Randomized and Observational Trial to Evaluate Coronavirus Treatment (PROTECT)” By Prof. Dr. Ghazna Khalid
Date and Time: 5th June 2020, 3:00 pm PST through ZOOM Meeting
Title: “COVID-19 Epidemiology Evidence Based Policy and Prospects for Vaccine.” By Prof. Dr. Saad B. Omer
Date and Time : May 6, 2020 , 5:00 am EST (2:00 pm PST)
The Prime Minister of Pakistan visited exhibition on COVID-19 organized by Ministry of Science and Technology at COMSTECH. The Coordinator General, COMSTECH Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary (H. I., S. I., T. I.) visited the exhibition and attended the briefing given at the occasion.
Speech of Prime Minister
The exhibition was organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology with the objective to showcase Pakistan’s success in manufacturing various essential items, such as protective gears, ventilators, respirators, sanitizers and disinfectants and masks of various types. The coordinator General COMSTECH Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary (H. I., S. I., T. I.) regarded this exhibition an excellent example of converting a calamity into an opportunity for technological development of show-casing Pakistan’s technological breakthrough in other OIC countries.
Prime Minister’s Visit to exhibition stalls
The minister of S&T Mr. Fawad Chaudhary briefed Prime Minister about various initiatives which MoST has taken to meet the national demands for products required against COVID-19 infection. Minister of defence production Ms. Zubaida Jalal also spoke at the occasion. The Prime Minister speaking to audience, appreciated the efforts of scientists and technologists of Pakistan and emphasized the need of science and technology and higher education as primary attributes of national self-reliance.
The exhibit took place in the COMSTECH building at the constitution avenue.
The President of Pakistan is the chairman, Prime Minister of Pakistan is the co-chairman and the Coordinator General is the Chief Executive of COMSTECH which is the only OIC organization chaired by Pakistan has appointed, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary as the Coordinator General of COMSTECH.
The newly appointed Coordinator-General Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary H.I., S.I., T. I., soon after taking the charge of the organization, met with the Minister for Science and Technology, Mr. Fawad Chaudhary in his office. He briefed the minister on COMSTECH existing program, such as collaborative programs with IFS, TWAS, Lindau Nobel Laureates Meetings, financial assistance for Inter-Islamic Networks, assistance for conferences, workshops, and seminars, COMSTECH awards, preparation of OIC science profile and COMSTECH research publication program.
To highlight the future plans, he mentioned COMSTECH capacity building initiative in infectious diseases (“preparing for the next pandemics”), artificial intelligence initiative for health and agriculture, science diplomacy and university-industry initiative. He emphasized the revival of the Science Technology and Innovation Organization (STIO) approved by OIC, and obtained contributions from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, and Malaysia. Prof. Choudhary mentioned that the programs and activities planned for 2020-21 are from a working paper, prepared on the instruction of the President of Pakistan who is the Chairman COMSTECH as well.
The Minister assured him the fullest support of his Ministry in fulfilling the mission of COMSTECH for science and technology cooperation in OIC member states. He has shown confidence that through COMSTECH, Pakistan will also be able to build its capacity in future fields of science and technology through bilateral and multilateral cooperation with leading institutions in OIC countries.
COMSTECH is the Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation of the OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) which was established by the Third Islamic Summit of OIC held at Makkah, Saudi Arabia in January 1981. COMSTECH is composed of all the member states of the organization represented by their ministers of science and technology or nominated representatives.
Title: “COVID-19 Epidemiology Evidence Based Policy and Prospects for Vaccine.”
By Prof. Dr. Saad B. Omer
Date and Time : May 6, 2020 , 5:00 am EST (2:00 pm PST)
Click here for Poster
Coronavirus disease (2019-nCoV) aka Covid-19 is an infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus i.e. severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, causing illness in humans and circulate among animals such as bats. The disease spreads primarily from person to person through small droplets, which are expelled when a person with Covid-19 coughs, sneezes, or speaks.
The disease was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China and has since spread globally, resulting in the ongoing 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic.
Robust response and scientific efforts are underway to curb this menace. On forefront is the development of vaccine. World Health Organization (WHO) has 76 vaccine candidates against Covid-19 so far among which only 5 are under clinical evaluation. These 5 may have to prove their worth through rigorous follow up and testing.
COMSTECH has arranged web based seminar to discuss Covid-19 epidemiology and its ramification for wider public health and health sciences particularly for the OIC member states. Prof. Dr. Saad B. Omer is invited for this seminar. In this talk, Prof. Omer will delve into insights of Covid- 19 epidemiology globally. He will discuss prospects, rigors and future predicaments for the Covid- 19 vaccine production.
Speaker’s Profile:
Prof. Dr. Saad B. Omer is the founding Director of the Yale Institute for Global Health, and a Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at the World Famous Yale University, Schools of Medicine and Public Health, USA. He has conducted studies in the United States, Guatemala, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa and other OIC states. Dr Omer’s research portfolio includes clinical trials to estimate efficacy and safety of maternal and/or infant influenza, pertussis, polio, measles and pneumococcal vaccines and trials to evaluate drug regimens to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV. He has published over 280 papers in peer reviewed journals and has mentored over 100 junior faculty, clinical, and research post-doctoral fellows and PhD and other graduate students. Prof. Omer’s insight about pandemics and their impact is unique and praise worthy.
https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/saad_omer
Procedure to join:
Step 1: Download software zoom for this web based seminar (https://zoom.us/)
Step 2: Send your request to join this seminar at khazima@comstech.org. Pl. note you need to send your Name, Email address, Affiliation, Profession, level of education in this email.
Islamabad: 1st June, 2020: Coordinator General COMSTECH, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary requested all OIC member states to support the plight of refugees during COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Choudhary mentioned that it has been established scientifically that malnourished refugees, living in overcrowded and unhygienic conditions are especially vulnerable to infections. He recognized that we Muslims understand the importance of serving refugees in the Islamic world. He pointed that the significance of refugees is deep rooted in Islam’s commitment to generosity, hospitality and non-discriminatory protection as taught in Islamic tradition. He hoped that as Pakistan has protected Afghan refugees for over 40-years with the sincerity and belief in basic human dignity, our brothers and sisters in the Muslim Ummah through ties with this august forum of OIC will pledge their support to do the same.
Coordinator General COMSTECH highlighted that many OIC member states including Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Turkey have been generously hosting millions of refugees and emphasized, with this background in mind, we are acutely aware and recognize that there is an urgent need to configure the far-reaching impact of conflict, poverty and displacement in OIC member states. Prof. Choudhary indicated that it is in recognition of the potential threat of starvation and disease arising from the rapid spread of COVID-19 in refugees in OIC member states.
In view of these considerations, He appealed for OIC assistance, through its own offices, offices of UNHCR and other agencies, be mobilized on priority basis to protect the millions of refugees in member states. He recommended to develop and implement a special relief package to provide monetary and technical assistance to refugees that provide food, essential medicines, masks, hand sanitizers and other such essential relief items.
Coordinator General COMSTECH showed his confidence that with the support of OIC member states, we will uphold our Muslim tradition, derived from the deep-rooted Muslim faith that “in the face of the world’s calamities, all sons of Adam are equal”. He hoped that we shall persevere in protecting the most vulnerable as well as upholding the rights of refugees in our communities and work together in realizing the long-standing principles of international solidarity and burden sharing at this critical conjuncture.
H.E. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General COMSTECH met with Maj. Gen. Amer Ikram, Executive Director, National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, Pakistan on Thursday, 4th June, 2020 in his office. The matters related to joint collaboration between COMSTECH and NIH were discussed in detail and agreed to hold the various joint activities.
June 04, 2020: H.E. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General COMSTECH met with H.E. Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Foreign Secretary of Pakistan in his office on Thursday, 4th June, 2020. Mr. Muhammad Kamran Akhtar, Director General (ACDIS) and Mr. Tariq Karim, Director General (EC & OCI), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) were also present in the meeting.
The Coordinator General COMSTECH discussed with the Foreign Secretary, new programs and activities of COMSTECH initiated after assumption of Charge of the office of Coordinator General COMSTECH and sought support of the Foreign Office. The matters related with regards to COMSTECH – MoFA collaboration in Science Diplomacy initiative and Capacity Building Programs across the OIC region were also discussed. The Foreign Secretary assured the Coordinator General COMSTECH of his full support in launching of new initiatives.
H.E. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General COMSTECH met with Mr. Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, Federal Secretary, Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications of Pakistan on Thursday, 4th June, 2020 in his office. The proposals of joint collaborative activities were discussed including;
National Exhibition on AI and IT Products for Health Care
Internet of Things (IoT) in Health Care – Digital Information
Telemedicine to Combat Future Pandemics
The Federal Secretary, Ministry of IT & Telecommunication expressed his keenness in the proposal and assured the Coordinator of his support.
Title: “Pakistan Randomized and Observational Trial to Evaluate Coronavirus Treatment (PROTECT)” By Prof. Dr. Ghazna Khalid
Date and Time: 5th June 2020, 3:00 pm PST
Coronavirus disease or Covid-19 is an infectious disease caused by a novel Coronavirus i.e. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, causing illness in humans and circulate among animals such as bats. The disease spreads primarily from person to person contact, through small droplets which are expelled when a person with Covid-19 coughs, sneezes, or speaks.
The disease was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China and has since spread globally, resulting in the ongoing 2019–20 Coronavirus pandemic. Robust response and scientific efforts are underway to curb this menace. These efforts are centred around conducting clinical trials to evaluate drugs and vaccines against this disease. In Pakistan, only a handful of clinical trials are underway. Pakistan Randomized and Observational Trial to Evaluate Coronavirus Treatment (PROTECT) is one of them.
COMSTECH has arranged web based seminar to discuss clinical trial PROTECT and its significance for wider Public Health and Health Sciences in Pakistan. COMSTECH is exploring ways to extend this trial to other OIC member states, as a strategy to help with the humanitarian fight against Covid-19.
Professor Dr. Ghazna Khalid, member of Scientific Task Force established by the Federal Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of Pakistan on PROTECT trial is invited to deliver this talk. This Task Force is mandated to plan, conduct, and disseminate findings of PROTECT in scientific interest to reduce the impact of devastating pandemic of SARS-Cov-2 in Pakistan.
Speaker’s Profile:
Professor Dr. Ghazna Khalid is a Pakistani technocrat, social activist, an internationally acclaimed gynaecologist and health expert. She is advisor on maternal and child health to the KPK Department of Health. She is a technical advisor to the Federal Ministry of National Health Regulations and Services in Islamabad. She is serving as a member on the Covid-19 task force in the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.
Dr. Ghazna Khalid brings more than 20 years of experience working with development organizations and international donor agencies to improve health, maternal and newborn health, and pregnancy outcomes in developing countries.
Dr Ghazna has a double doctorate. She holds a Medical degree (MBBS) from Imperial College London and PhD Doctorate in Research from University College London UK. She is a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists MRCOG London UK.
His Excellency the Secretary General of OIC, Dr. Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen visited COMSTECH Secretariat Islamabad on August 9, 2017. His delegation was received by COMSTECH team led by Dr Shaukat Hameed Khan, Coordinator General COMSTECH.
Secretary General was briefed on COMSTECH’s activities and programs. Federal Minister for Science and Technology Mr. Rana Tanveer Hussain and Secretary for Ministry of Science and Technology Mr. Fazal Abbas Maken, also attended the event.
Later the Secretary General along with Minister and other dignitaries attended dinner hosted by Coordinator General Dr. Shaukat Hameed Khan.
June 19, 2020: Dr. Abdur Rashid, Director, DRAP and Dr. Ghazna Khalid Siddiqui MNA and Member, Task Force of Ministry of Science and Technology of Pakistan on COVID-19 had meeting with Coordinator General COMSTECH Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, today morning in his office.
