SAFE Project at Aga Khan University Hospital is introducing emotionally safe, family-centered communication into invasive pediatric procedures in a pioneering initiative funded by INSPIRE. The Department of Emergency Medicine has led the effort to adapt simulation-based training to Pakistan’s clinical context, marking the program as a first of its kind in the country.
The SAFE Project is being implemented in close collaboration with the Department of Pediatrics, the Pediatric Outreach Centers at CMS, Garden and Karimabad, and the Centre for Innovation in Medical Education (CIME). This local network supports practical training that reflects the realities of care across Karachi’s outreach clinics and hospital settings.
International mentorship from experts in Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Simulation at SickKids, Toronto and specialists in Child Life and Psychosocial Care at McMaster University, Canada, has strengthened the SAFE Project’s curriculum. These global partnerships reinforce the initiative’s focus on improving both clinical outcomes and the emotional well-being of children and families during emergency procedures.
To date the SAFE Project team has conducted three hands-on workshops, training more than 75 participants in emotionally safe pediatric care practices. The sessions combine simulation techniques with communication strategies to help clinicians and staff deliver care that respects family involvement and reduces distress for young patients.
Clinicians and institutions interested in upcoming SAFE Project workshops can contact the team for details at noor.ulain@aku.edu, ambreen.ahmed@aku.edu or faiza.lakhdhir@aku.edu. Continued local and international collaboration aims to expand access to family-centered, emotionally safe pediatric emergency care across Pakistan.
