Profile of Dr.Shaikh Tanveer Ahmed

Introduction

Dr. Shaikh Tanveer Ahmed is the Chief

Executive of the leading nonprofit

organization HANDS (Health And

Nutrition Development Society). He is a

medical graduate, holding Master’s in

Public Health. He has done his fellowship

from Public Health Institute Santa Cruz

California. His unique experience of

working as Public Health Educationist and

Development specialist is spread in a

canvas of thirty years, during this period he

has been working with a donor agency (USAIDS), Public sector (Health Department-

Government of Sindh) and a National Non Governmental Organization (HANDS). His

distinctive job position has exposed him to enormous understanding of grass roots realities and

the National & International policies forum. His 20 years of consistent leadership of HANDS has

developed it in to a fascinating integrated development models, working in 24 districts of

Pakistan with staff strength of nearly 2000. More than 25 papers are on his credentials, presented

in international conferences, held in different countries. He is also the writer of 60 publications

on Development & Public health issues. Dr.Shaikh is fluent in almost 06 languages and dialects.

Apart from many scholarly books and articles, he also published many researches on the

platform of HANDS.

Early Life

Dr.Shaikh was born on 15th

July 1956 in Karachi He was among the five sons and three

daughters of Shaikh Muhammad Sabir & Madam Sugra Begum. His father, a Pakistan Railway

Employee, was inspired by the reformist thinking of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. In

his early age, Dr.Shaikh's parents introduced him to the poetry of Muhammad Iqbal & Shah

Abdul Latif Bhatti, the speeches of Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. This upbringing

influenced his interest in historical as well as contemporary social & economic affairs.

Dr.Shaikh attended Hussani Ibrahim Foundation School at Karachi and completed his

matriculation in 1973. Got admission for Intermediate in AdamJee Science Collage and

completed in 1975. He read science subjects for getting admission in MBBS for to be Doctor and

succeeded to get admission in Dow Medical College in 1975 and he completed his Bachelor of

Medicine (M.B.B.S) from Dow in 1983. Having passed MBBS qualified PCS & joined Health

department Government of Sindh as 17th

Grade Officer and he worked there therefore he was

deputed in USAID by Government of Sindh he worked there almost two years. He went to USA

after resignation of Government Job for Fellowship in Reproductive Health and Family Planning

Program from Public Health Institute Santa Cruz, CA - USA. But he realized in USA that he

should serve poor and deprived people of his country because they need his services. Therefore

he came to back Pakistan & joined HANDS as Executive Coordinator & till now he has been

leading HANDS as Chief Executive in 29 district of the country

Dr.Shaikh married Madam Uzma Tanveer (Educationist ). Together, being follower of family

planning they have two children daughter ( Dr.Misha Tanveer ) and a son ( Mahaz Tanveer ).

Responsibilities and Achievements:

Strategic Program planning and policy implementation.

Coordination among field staff (>200), Community based volunteers (800), the executive

committee (16 members) and different organizational activities.·

Monitoring / evaluation / teaching / trainings / Report / project proposal writing / research

and fund raising.·

Development of Training material, Curriculum designing.·

Networking with CBOs, NGOs, Lines Department, and Donors·

Development of Publications, News letters.·

Organized, designed and conducted hundreds of training workshops for different levels

health Care Providers.·

Community based and research oriented Project management.·

Worked as consultant for different NGOs / UN Agencies, Unicef & WHO.

He has conducted more than 60 Researches and evaluations from the platform of HANDS.

Conducted many baseline studies for the proposed interventions, implemented action research

projects, conducted post project evaluations and mid-term reviews. Few of the studies were

internal evaluations. Many of the research studies were conducted for other NGOs I have

presented more than 30 papers in National & International forums. Following is the brief profile

of these researches.

Qualitative research on “Maternal and child health & Nutrition”, was conducted during

the year 1997-98 on national level by The Asia Foundation with collaboration of Mother

Care and Unicef. HANDS was one of the partner NGOs who were extensively involved

in the study. The study was conducted in all four provinces of Pakistan. As a follow up

the IEC material and training modules regarding promotion of Maternal & child health

and Nutrition were developed and disseminated to NGOs.

An Action research project on “Improvement of sick childhood case management by

general practitioners” in rural Malir district Karachi, was implemented in 1998, with

collaboration of The Aga Khan University Hospital and BASICS/USAID. During this

one year project, the general practitioners were trained in standard childhood case

management and were periodically monitored by project team and community members

to assess the improvement in the practices. The community awareness was conducted in

all communities to educate them regarding the standard case management. As a follow up

a major campaign was launched to reduce the irrational use of injection practice, to

promote safe injection practice and to promote preventive measure from transmission of

Hepatitis B & C. The Hepatitis B vaccination camps were organized in rural Malir with

support of Local district government and health departments. Dr. Inayet H. Thaver played

key role in the study.

Conducted research study on “Reducing Maternal Mortality by NGO –Community

Partnership”, in Taluka Hala, District Hyderabad, Sindh, as a baseline for the three

duration project Funded by The Aga Khan Foundation. Dr. Bazmi Inam was the Principal

Investigator and Chairman of Department of Community Health Sciences Ziauddin

Medical University, Karachi.

Conducted research on “Awareness of General Practitioners in Sukkur district regarding

HIV/AIDS”, during the year 2000.

The action research project was implemented for three years (2002 – 4) on “Sustainable

Reproductive Health Services Initiatives” in district Thatta. The Baseline study and Post

Project Evaluation were conducted. The project was funded by TVO/ EC.

Conducted research study in 2004, on “Effects of drought on human life, nutrition of

women and children, livestock and agriculture; and issues of food security in district

Kharan, Balochistan”. The study was collaborated and funded by Islamic Relief and

European Commission of Humanitarian Aid (ECHO). As a follow up and according to

the recommendations the interventions project was extended for next two years.

Conducted research in 2005-6, on “Women’s Reproductive Health Care Situation in

District Rahim Yar Khan”. The study included the Health facilities assessment, LHWs

assessment and need assessment of the communities for reproductive health services. The

study was collaborated by MCWAK and funded by UNFPA. Following the study

information the interventions were implemented in the all four talukas of district Rahim

Yar Khan.

Conducted Participatory Mid-Term Review of Pakistan Initiatives for Mothers And

Newborn project of Six NGOs in Sindh, Feb – April 2007.

An Operation Research project was implemented in district Dadu under New Approaches

for Reproductive Health Initiatives as “Output Based Aid” Voucher scheme to improve

status of Provision of EmONC services, funded by TACMIL/USAID, from Oct 2008-Nov

2009.

Operation Research project “Improve Reproductive Health and Family Planning in

marginalized communities of Sindh, Pakistan, through viable and demonstrable

initiatives”, in district Umerkot, implemented from Oct 2007 – Sep 2010, funded by The

David & Lucile Packard Foundation

Operation Research project “Strengthening of FLCF as Basic EmONC care facility (BHU)

Wahi Pandhi, District Dadu (2 years project – July 2006-June 2008) funded by

PAIMAN/USAID.

HANDS conducted an external evaluation of READ Foundation in Azad`Jammu &

Kashmir in Nov-Dec 2007. Evaluation checklist, questionnaire and guidelines were used

for the assessment and review of existing status and progress of the organization and its

intervention units in perspective of the mission of the organization.

Conducted research in 2005-6, on “Women’s Reproductive Health Care Situation in

District Rahim Yar Khan”. The study included the 12 Health facilities assessment, 100

LHWs assessment and need assessment of the communities for reproductive health

services. The study was collaborated by MCWAK and funded by UNFPA. Following the

study information the interventions were implemented in the all four talukas of district

Rahim Yar Khan.

Conducted research study in 2004, on “Effects of drought on human life, nutrition of

women and children, livestock and agriculture; and issues of food security in district

Kharan, Balochistan”. The study was collaborated and funded by Islamic Relief and

European Commission of Humanitarian Aid (ECHO). The sample size was comprised of

450 House Hold randomly selected Survey. As a follow up and according to the

recommendations the interventions project was extended for next two years.

The action research project was implemented for three years (2002 – 4) on “Sustainable

Reproductive Health Services Initiatives” in district Thatta. The Baseline study and Post

Project Evaluation were conducted. The project was funded by TVO/ EC.

Qualitative research on “Maternal and child health & Nutrition”, was conducted during the

year 1997-98 on national level by The Asia Foundation with collaboration of Mother Care

and Unicef. HANDS was one of the partner NGOs who were extensively involved in the

study. The study was conducted in all four provinces of Pakistan. As a follow up the IEC

material and training modules regarding promotion of Maternal & child health and

Nutrition were developed and disseminated to NGOs.

An Action research project on “Improvement of sick childhood case management by

general practitioners” in rural Malir district Karachi, was implemented in 1998, with

collaboration of The Aga Khan University Hospital and BASICS/USAID. During this one

year project, the general practitioners were trained in standard childhood case management

and were periodically monitored by project team and community members to assess the

improvement in the practices. The community awareness were conducted in all

communities to educate them regarding the standard case management. As a follow up a

major campaign was launched to reduce the irrational use of injection practice, to

promote safe injection practice and to promote preventive measure from transmission of

Hepatitis B & C. The Hepatitis B vaccination camps were organized in rural Malir with

support of Local district government and health departments. Dr. Inayet H. Thaver played

key role in the study.

Conducted Operation research study on “Reducing Maternal Mortality by NGO –

Community Partnership”, in Taluka Hala, District Hyderabad, Sindh, as a baseline for the

three duration project Funded by The Aga Khan Foundation. Dr. Bazmi Inam was the

Principal Investigator and Chairman of Department of Community Health Sciences

Ziauddin Medical University, Karachi.

Conducted research on “Awareness of General Practitioners in Sukkur district regarding

HIV/AIDS”, during the year 2000.

Since September 1991 to September to 1993: as"Coordinator" Provincial Child Survival

Training Unit at Department of Pediatrics, Dow Medical College & Civil Hospital (A

Project of USAID).

Since July 1st 1989 to September 1991 as Physician at Diarrhoea training Unit, Department

of Paediatrics, Dow Medical College & Civil Hospital Karachi. (USAID funded nationwide

project running in collaboration with UNICEF, WHO, Ministry of Health Pakistan and

National Institute of Health Islamabad Pakistan).

Since July, 1987 to June, 1988 as Provincial FSMO (field supervisory medical officer)

I have worked for EPI/CDD as field supervisory medical officer (FSMO) at the provincial

head office

Since13th September 1987 to 31st June 1988worked as medical officer at taluka hospital

Hala district Hyderabad (Sindh-Pakistan).

Since14th February 1983 to 13th September 1987 as Clinician in following positions:

As registrar at Paediatric Depart Civil Hospital Karachi.

As Casualty Medical officer & Registrar at a Private Hospital.

As Intern in department of Medicine & Surgery of Dow Medical College & Civil Hospital

Karachi.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIANCE: Invited in dozens of international Conferences as

follows:

December 2000, participated in Peoples Health Assembly (PHA) at savor Dacca Bangladesh.

December 1998, participated in 4th

Asia Pacific Conference of NGOs Committee on World

Bank at Bangkok Thai Land.

11-14 December 1996 "Asia Pacific Regional consultation on Quality of Health Care

Services" at Madurai Madras India by Consumer international(CI- Malaysia) & FEDCOT

(Federation of Consumers Organization Tamil Nado India).

June 24 - 29 1996 " Common Wealth Workshop on Public NGO Partnership" at Botswana by

Common Wealth foundation.

"14th World Congress Montpelier France" from September 26-30 1994 Organized by

Consumer International London.

Feb 1990 to April 1995 as volunteer coordinator of "HEALTH ACTION

INTERNATIONAL" Penang Malaysia. Assignment was to run a campaign for the promotion

of rational use of drug.

March 31, 1994 “1st National Consumers Workshop" with collaboration of International

Organization of Consumers Union (Malaysia) and The Network (Islamabad) on

February 6 & 7 Conducted Two days "National Workshop On Rational Use of Drugs in

Children & Role Of Mass Media" from the Platform of HAI on 1993 funded by Consumers

International Malaysia.

April 24 to 29 1992 represented Pakistan in a International meeting of Health Action

International at Geneva.

8-12, June 1992 represented Pakistan in Health Ministry Officials workshop held at Colombo

Srilanka Presented The paper "On Pakistan National Drugs Policy"

12-13 June 1992 represented Pakistan and Chair the session of the Asian meeting of ARDA (

Action for Rational Drugs in Asia) at Colombo Srilanka.

I was also made responsible to monitor the code of ethics followed by the breast milk

substitute companies by International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) Penang

Malaysia.

PUBLICATIONS:

Published Thesis in Master’s " An enquiry in to the prescribing practices of General

Practitioners of Karachi " in 1994.

Co-author of the booklet for the doctors and other health workers on "A MANUAL OF

CHILD SURVIVAL MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES" published in February 1994.

Co-author of the booklet for the family Physicians on "Diarrhoea management in children"

published in February 1994.

Co-author of a textbook name "Community Medicine by Prof. Mohammad Ilyas et.all"

published in 1993.

Several "Health education material" are on my credit use in promotion of Reproductive

Health, Adolescent Reproductive health, breast feeding, ARI & CDD Programs.