On April 30, 2025, the International Center for Refugee and Migration Studies (ICRMS) successfully organized an impactful academic enrichment workshop on Health Care and Environment at the Pink Hall, BUITEMS. The workshop brought together students from both refugee and host communities to raise awareness, build practical skills, and promote collaborative problem-solving.

The event began with a recitation from the Holy Quran, creating a respectful and uplifting tone. Mr. Muhammad Kazim, the event moderator, welcomed all participants and introduced the objectives of the session, setting the stage for an engaging and meaningful day.

Guest speaker Dr. Muhammad Naeem Shahwani, Dean at FLSI-BUITEMS, led an informative and practical session combining two major themes: Basic Health Care Awareness and Our Environment, Our Health. His presentation focused on the close link between environmental well-being and personal health, particularly within refugee and underserved communities.He opened by discussing the value of health, describing it as our most important asset that supports daily functioning, family life, and mental stability. Refugee communities, he explained, often face a range of health issues, including communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, flu, and diarrhea, as well as non-communicable conditions like stress and high blood pressure. These problems are often intensified by overcrowding, poor sanitation, and limited access to healthcare.

Dr. Muhammad Naeem Shahwani provided practical advice on maintaining good hygiene and sanitation:

• Wash hands regularly with soap
• Use clean, safe water for drinking and cooking
• Properly dispose of waste to maintain a healthy environment

He also addressed nutrition, emphasizing the need for balanced meals made from locally available resources and advising against consumption of stale food. He urged students to recognize warning signs such as fever, cough, fatigue, and diarrhea, and to seek early medical assistance.

In the second half of his talk, Dr. Muhammad Naeem Shahwani shifted focus to environmental health. He explained that a clean environment directly supports healthy living, while dirty surroundings increase disease risks. Key points included:

• Sorting waste (organic, plastic, hazardous) to improve waste management
• Boiling drinking water and using covered containers
• Staying hydrated and seeking shade in hot climates
• Planting trees and conserving water and electricity
• Reusing materials and educating others about environmental responsibility

He concluded with an open Q&A and discussion session, encouraging students to share their thoughts on daily actions they can take to improve both personal and environmental health.

After the expert session, participants were taken for a short refreshment break, giving them an opportunity to relax, network, and reflect on the topics discussed. Following the break, they were divided into five groups, each assigned a specific topic related to refugee and community health. The groups engaged in detailed discussions and presented their findings using charts. Below is a summary of each group’s presentation:

• Group 1: Chaghi Refugees
  Issues: Lack of healthcare, unemployment, poverty, mental health concerns due to displacement, respiratory problems from poor shelter conditions, and drug addiction.
  Proposed Solutions: Deployment of mobile clinics, vocational training programs, mental health counseling, distribution of face masks, improved shelter ventilation, and youth-focused rehabilitation services.
• Group 2: General Community Health
  Challenges: Poor hygiene practices, water pollution, limited access to medical services, and environmental degradation.
  Suggested Solutions: Hygiene awareness workshops, distribution of water filters, placement of trained medical staff, tree plantation initiatives, and improvements in local infrastructure.
• Group 3: Refugee Health Improvement
  Focus: Raising awareness and providing education on health and hygiene, improving access to clean water and adequate shelter, and training community-based health workers.
  Recommended Actions: Regular awareness sessions, localized health workshops in native languages, improved ventilation systems, and sanitation education.
• Group 4: Eastern Nawa Killi Bypass
  Identified Problems: Inadequate hygiene and water pollution.
  Proposed Solutions: Distribution of hygiene kits, installation of water filtration systems, and community-led cleanliness campaigns.
• Group 5: Additional Environmental Challenges
  Concerns: Overpopulation and increasing air pollution.
  Suggested Solutions: Promotion of family planning, smoke emission control strategies, and widespread tree plantation efforts to improve air quality.

The Refugee and Host Students’ Enrichment Workshop on Health Care and Environment was a significant and successful initiative. It promoted health and environmental awareness, encouraged cross-community collaboration, and provided youth with practical tools to address real-world challenges. Through group discussions and expert insights, students were empowered to become agents of change within their communities. The event also strengthened social cohesion between refugee and host communities, setting the foundation for future joint initiatives.

Ms. Hifsa Ghafoor concluded the session with heartfelt thanks to all participants, particularly the students from both communities for their active and thoughtful engagement. She acknowledged their collaboration, highlighting how they united to understand community issues and brainstorm grassroots solutions. Ms. Ghafoor emphasized the importance of continued youth engagement in such initiatives and assured participants that similar programs will be conducted in the future to sustain this momentum of learning and collective action.

To mark the conclusion of the event, she presented a token of appreciation, a commemorative shield, to guest speaker Dr. Muhammad Naeem Shahwani in recognition of his valuable contribution. The event ended on a high note, celebrating a shared commitment to health, environment, and community empowerment.
At the conclusion of the workshop, certificates were distributed among the students who participated, acknowledging their active involvement and commitment to health and environmental issues. A group photo was taken at the end of the session to commemorate the successful conclusion of the workshop.

Reported by Muhammad Asif
Reporting Associate