Pakistan’s Dr Zahra honoured as 'Goalkeepers Champion' for improving maternal health outcomes

Dr Zahra Hoodbhoy, an Associate Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health at Aga Khan University (AKU), has been honoured with the Global Goalkeepers Award by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for her outstanding contributions to maternal and child health solutions.

Each year, individuals from around the world are selected for this prestigious award for making significant strides toward achieving the Global Goals by 2030.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation recognised ten Goalkeepers Champions, including experts, innovators, advocates, and leaders, for their remarkable contributions.

Dr Zahra, trained as a physician at Karachi's AKU, has made invaluable efforts in community-based projects and has curated significant research publications in collaboration with international experts.

By employing artificial intelligence tools and next-generation prenatal vitamins, she has produced groundbreaking research aimed at improving maternal and child health in impoverished areas.

Her meticulous work in public health, particularly with AI tools, empowers community workers to provide timely healthcare services to pregnant women, helping to keep them healthy throughout their pregnancies.

According to the Gates Foundation, “she is also the primary investigator for a clinical trial on next-generation multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS+).”

These supplements can treat several health issues, including food insecurity, malnutrition, and anemia, which affect many expectant mothers.

Dr Zahra Hoodbhoy prioritised maternal health to ensure women receive proper and timely medical care, reducing the risk of deteriorating health during pregnancy and promoting overall well-being.