Karachi (Khyber Mail): Dr. Fyezah Jehan, Chair of Paediatrics & Child Health at Aga Khan University (AKU), has been honored as a Distinguished International Fellow by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) for her significant contributions to research, advocacy, and service for malnourished mothers, children, and infectious diseases.
The award was presented at the ASTMH’s annual meeting in New Orleans, attended by ASTMH President Dr. Linnie Golightly and CEO Jamie Bay Nishi. The award is given to non-American citizens who have made eminent contributions to tropical medicine and hygiene.
Dr. Fyezah’s notable interventions include the use of ready-to-use supplemental foods through peri-urban clinics in Karachi, which benefited over 10,000 women and children at risk of malnutrition. Her collaborative initiatives with Rotary International and the Trust for Malnutrition and Stunted Growth have focused on early diagnosis and management of malnutrition among children and pregnant women.
She led the MUMTA trial, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which studied the impact of balanced energy protein supplementation and micronutrients in pregnant and breastfeeding women on newborn outcomes. This research is groundbreaking in understanding how maternal nutrition can support early brain health. Dr. Fyezah’s work on the Alliance for Maternal and Newborn Health Improvement (AMANHI) biobank, in collaboration with the World Health Organization and institutions across South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, has led to groundbreaking discoveries in the biology of adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes.
Furthermore, Dr. Fyezah has contributed to reshaping pneumonia treatment guidelines for children and developing more efficient diagnostic and treatment protocols to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and prevent antibiotic resistance. She has published over 100 papers on topics including vaccine equity, child health interventions, and infectious diseases.
Dr. Fyezah is the second Pakistani and AKU faculty member to receive this award, following Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta, who was honored in 2018.