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Expertise
Strategic Health planning, Health Systems Development and Evaluation, HIV/AIDS, Capacity Strengthening, Monitoring and Evaluation, Programme Management, Sexual and Reproductive Health
Education
2011 (to date) Masters of Art in Intermodal Expressive Art Coaching, Consulting and
Education. The European Graduate School, Saas Fee, Switzerland
2005 Masters of Science (MSc) Health Systems Management/ (Diploma of London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine - DLSHTM). London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
2002 Fellow of College of Physicians and Surgeons (FCPS) Community Medicine. College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan
1996 Bachelor of Medicine; Bachelor of Surgery (M.B; B.S). Ayub Medical College Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Course on International Health Consultancy, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, 2008 (special prize for "most promising international health consultant")
Certificate of English Language Teaching for Adults (CELTA). Cambridge University, 2007
Professional Experience
2008 to Date: Independent International Public Health Consultant
Key Achievements
refer to Consultancies
2006-2007: Health Information Analyst, Emergency Humanitarian Action, World Health Organization Islamabad, Pakistan
I was responsible for the coordination, compilation and contextual analysis of qualitative and quantitative information being collected by various national and international agencies in. I also designed and coordinated assessments of health services and facilities in disaster areas to identify bottlenecks in information needs and recommend efficient solutions through reports and proposals.
Key Achievements
Coordination, analysis and write-up of "An interagency Assessment of Public Health Facilities in eight affected Districts In NWFP and AJK"
Coordination, analysis and write-up of "Household Indigenous KAP survey on Scabies, ARI and Diarrheoa in earthquake affected districts of Pakistan"
Participated in developing district winter contingency plans for earthquake-affected areas
Member of "Returns Task Force" (to advocate the government to promote a dignified "pull" return amongst IDPs and help create an enabling environment for recovery in places of origin)
Facilitated "The First Inter-country Meeting on Developing Regional Strategy for EMR on Community Based Rehabilitation", (prepared conference report and participated in developing pilot project proposal worth US$ 100,000)
2006 : Technical Officer, Monitoring and Evaluation, Family Health International, Islamabad Pakistan
I developed the Monitoring and Evaluation system for the National AIDS Control Programme Truckers' Project including framework, tools and mechanisms. I was responsible for capacity building of internal and external staff on M&E, maintaining quality and validity of data, contextual analysis of data related to the project and write up of project reports as per donor requirements. I also developed proposals for operational and systems research.
Key Achievements
Development of M&E framework
Development of M&E tools and user manuals
Capacity building of service providers to use M&E tools
Development and submission of proposal for short film project on truckers risk to HIV
2004 to 2005: Public Health Physician/Team Leader for Somalia, Action Africa Help International, Nairobi, Kenya
My major responsibility was to ensure that the EC/GF-funded AAH Health Projects were adequately implemented as per the relevant contracts and project proposals and to ensure that that the AAH health team in Bari Region was provided with good leadership. I participated in the development of new health projects and proposals and ensured that sound relations were maintained with all health sector partners. I represented AAH health projects in Bari Region to all external and internal partners and was member of the Somalia Aids Coordination Body.
Key achievements
Establishing PHC system in seven districts of Puntland, Somalia including overseeing physical rehabilitation, supply and capacity building of health workers
Development of five-year strategic plan (based on SWOT analysis) for Bosaso General Hospital
Initiating health outreach programme for IDP camps In Bosaso Town
2002 to 2004: Manager Services Development:
Aahung, Karachi, Pakistan
I undertook the development of needs-based training modules and guidelines in the field of sexual health, behavior change communication, rights and gender. I participated in capacity building of partner organizations to integrate quality sexual health educational and medical services through development of material and facilitating training sessions. I was also responsible for liaising and networking with national and international NGOs and the public sector. Furthermore, I was responsible for monitoring and evaluation of outreach staff and services. I developed and undertook basic operational and action research as and when required.
Key achievements
Development of BCC guidelines for DFID funded "HIV/AIDS Prevention with Drug Harm Reduction in Pakistan". Futures Group Europe and National AIDS Control Programme Pakistan. link
Peer education programme and development of manual for HIV/AIDS awareness (Green Star, Karachi, Pakistan).
Incorporating a gender and rights perspective in HIV/AIDS in Pakistan in managers training manual "Reproductive Health for All" (AIDOS, Italy and Shirkat Gah, Pakistan).
Development of curriculum and training for life skills for street children (AZAD Foundation Pakistan).
Workshop on introducing Rights Based Approach to Health (CBOs of District Sind, Shirkat Gah, Pakistan)
HIV awareness raising and counseling for pastors (Church World Services, Afghanistan and Pakistan)
Workshop on 'Theater for Development' for sexual health promotion, Larkana, Pakistan.
1998 to 2002: Community Medicine Resident: Division of Public Health, Department of Community Health Sciences. The Aga Khan University Karachi, Pakistan
As part of the residency I undertook basic courses in public health and related topics. I was involved in undergraduate (MBBS) teaching (epidemiology, environmental and occupational health, health systems and primary health care technology). I conducted family medicine clinics at AKU- PHC sites and AKU outpatient department. I participated in departmental projects as and when appointed to do so.
Key achievements
Member core team (AKU): Tawana Pakistan; a nation-wide feeding program for primary school girls to improve nutrition and school enrolment. Jan-Oct, 2002 (development of MIS and baseline survey)
Project co-coordinator: Water and Sanitation Extension Programme: Health impact evaluation, Gilgit, Pakistan.
Sexually Transmitted Infections, KAP survey. Nawshero-Feroze, Sindh, Pakistan.
Data collection: Ischemic Heart Diseases in South West London; CONDUIT project: Battersea Research Group, Battersea, London.
Situation analysis and health relief camps at drought ridden areas of Thar Desert, Sindh, Pakistan.
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Computer skills
Statistical: Epi Info 6.04c; SPSS
Spread Sheets: Microsoft Excel
Word processing: Microsoft Word
Video editing: Final Cut Pro
Internet-based searches
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Languages
English (native proficiency)
Urdu (native proficiency)
several Pakistani local languages
Arabic (reading and writing)
German (basic conversational)
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Countries traveled and worked*
Austria*, Bahrain, Czeck Republic, Egypt, France, Germany*, Italy, Pakistan*, Kenya*, Malaysia, Nepal, The Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Somalia*, Southern Sudan*, Switzerland*, Turkey, UAE, UK*
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Publications
Afsar H, Sohani S, Younus M, Mohamad S. Integration of sexual and reproductive health in the medical curriculum in Pakistan. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2006 Jan; 16(1):27-30. link
Afsar H, Younus M, Gul A. Outcome of patient referral made by the lady health workers in Karachi, Pakistan.J Pak Med Assoc. 2005 May;55(5):209-11. link
Afsar H, Younus M. Strengthening the role of Lady Health Workers In National Programme for Family Planning and primary health Care: The LHW perspective. 2004, J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad, 2005; 17(1) :48-53. link
Afsar H, Gill S. Theater for Development for Sexual Health Promotion- A Case Study. Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, Sept 2004, 54 :487-490. link
Afsar H, Younus M . Patient Referral at the Grass-roots Level in Pakistan. Nature and Science. 2004;2(4):18-28. link
D. Nanan D, F. White F, I. Azam, H. Afsar and Hozhabri S. Evaluation of a water, sanitation, and hygiene education intervention on diarrhoea in Northern Pakistan. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 2003, 81 (3): 160-165. link
Afsar H, Qureshi AF, Younus M, Gul A, Mahmood A. Factors affecting unsuccessful referral by the Lady Health Workers, Pakistan. Journal of Pakistan Medical Association , Nov 2003, 53 :21-24. link
Mahmood A, Kadir M, Afsar H, Barni N. Health needs of clients: insight by medical practitioners from two districts of Sind. Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, June 2002,52: 239-243
Afsar H, Mahmood A, Kadir M, Barni N, Ali S. Knowledge attitude and practices regarding sexually transmitted infections in a rural district of Pakistan. Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, Jan 2002,52: 21-24
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Posters/presentations
Afsar H: Perceptions of Health among Asylum Seekers from Afghanistan in Zurich, Switzerland. Presented at the "Swiss Public Health Conference" September 2008 and accepted for "ECO Health Conference Mexico City" December 2008
Afsar H, Sohani S. Sexual Health: Towards promoting equity in Reproductive Health. Poster presented at the "Third International Conference of the International Society for Equity in Health. Durban". June 2004
Sohani S, Afsar H. Managing Reproductive Tract Infections in Women. Poster presented at National Health Sciences Research Symposium and Workshops. "Reproductive Health, A Life Cycle Approach". Sept 20-25, 2004, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
Afsar H. Baseline of sexual health services and knowledge, attitudes, and practices of doctors regarding sexual health in district Turbat, Balochistan . Presented at the Fourth PAP conference, "Population Research and Policy Development in Pakistan", Faisalabad, Pakistan, 9 to 11 December 2003
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References on request
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