The Department of Emergency Medicine at Aga Khan University Hospital has launched the SAFE Project, an INSPIRE-funded programme pioneering the integration of emotionally safe and family-centered communication into invasive pediatric procedures. This first-of-its-kind initiative in Pakistan aims to equip emergency teams with practical skills to support emotional safety during high-stress interventions.
Implementation is underway in close collaboration with the Department of Pediatrics, the Pediatric Outreach Centers in CMS, Garden and Karimabad, and the Centre for Innovation in Medical Education (CIME). These local partnerships are designed to ensure training reaches clinicians across hospital and outreach settings and that family-centered care principles are embedded in routine practice.
Mentorship from international experts at SickKids, Toronto and specialists in child life and psychosocial care from McMaster University, Canada brings targeted guidance in pediatric emergency medicine and simulation-based education. This global collaboration strengthens efforts to advance both clinical excellence and the emotional wellbeing of children and families receiving emergency care in Pakistan.
So far the SAFE Project team has run three workshops, training more than 75 participants in emotionally safe pediatric care practices and family-centered communication techniques. Clinicians and staff interested in upcoming workshops can contact the SAFE Project team at noor.ulain@aku.edu, ambreen.ahmed@aku.edu or faiza.lakhdhir@aku.edu for details and registration information.
