SODISS Paving the Way for Occupational Health Reform
SODISS Paving the Way for Occupational Health Reform
AKU
Media Source: News Update Times (Pakistan)
Date: 22 August 2024
The Department of Community Health Sciences at Aga Khan University (AKU) hosted a dissemination seminar in Pakistan for the piloting of the “Sindh Occupational Diseases and Injuries Surveillance System” (SODISS). The project, conducted in collaboration with the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI)…
The Department of Community Health Sciences at Aga Khan University (AKU) hosted a dissemination seminar in Pakistan for the piloting of the “Sindh Occupational Diseases and Injuries Surveillance System” (SODISS). The project, conducted in collaboration with the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI), marked a significant step towards initiating occupational health surveillance in Pakistan. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between SESSI and AKU for this pilot project, which allowed the development and implementation of a simple, digital surveillance system at SESSI hospitals in Karachi. This system enabled physicians to accurately record occupational diseases and injuries among registered workers, contributing to the development of the first industry-specific occupational health data registry in Pakistan. Deputy Director Labour Department, Government of Sindh, Mr. Javed Ahmed, underscored the significance of the project for the broader labour community. “The SODISS initiative is a groundbreaking effort that will help us better understand occupational diseases that our workers suffer from. The data and insights gained from this project will be crucial in developing better health and safety regulations, that will benefit countless workers across Sindh”.