Larkana gets new access to lifesaving BLS training as DUHS, SMBBMU partner

KARACHI: Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU), Larkana, have partnered to expand access to standardized Basic Life Support (BLS) training, bringing DUHS’s internationally certified lifesaving skills programme closer to healthcare professionals in upper Sindh.

Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on August 31, 2026, SMBBMU Larkana has been designated as a training location for DUHS’s BLS course, according to DUHS. The arrangement is aimed at making certified emergency-care training more accessible to doctors, nurses, paramedics, students and other healthcare professionals in the region.

The partnership means healthcare professionals in Larkana and surrounding areas will have greater access to standardized BLS training without having to travel to other locations for the course.

Focus on lifesaving skills

BLS training equips healthcare professionals with essential skills for responding to life-threatening emergencies, including cardiac and respiratory arrest.

The training covers key lifesaving interventions such as chest compressions, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), rescue breathing and maintaining an open airway. Developing these skills among healthcare workers can help improve the speed and effectiveness of emergency responses in hospitals and other healthcare settings.

DUHS said the new training location will help address the need for internationally certified emergency-care training in regions where access to such programmes may be limited.

The university has been conducting internationally certified healthcare training since 2010 and says it has trained more than 25,000 healthcare providers in lifesaving skills, including BLS and other emergency-care competencies.

DUHS to provide BLS programme through Larkana location

The MoU does not simply create an independent BLS programme jointly operated by the two universities. Rather, the agreement expands DUHS’s existing BLS training network by establishing SMBBMU Larkana as a DUHS training location.

This distinction places DUHS’s established BLS course and certification framework at the centre of the arrangement, while SMBBMU provides the Larkana-based location through which healthcare professionals in the region can access the training.

The collaboration is therefore expected to strengthen access to professional development and lifesaving-skills training across Sindh, particularly for healthcare workers based in and around Larkana.

Officials attend MoU signing

The MoU was signed in the presence of senior representatives from both institutions.

The DUHS delegation included Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Nazli Hossain, Pro Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Sajida Qureshi, Registrar Dr. Ashar Afaq, Director of the Professional Development Centre Dr. Syed Farjad Sultan, Training Centre Coordinator Muhammad Irfan, Training Centre Administrator Imran Ahmed and members of the Training Centre team.

The SMBBMU delegation included Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Nusrat Shah, Director of the Directorate of Health Professions Education Dr. Saira Fatima and Training Location Coordinator Dr. Muhammad Imran Soomro.

Both institutions described the collaboration as part of their commitment to quality healthcare education, continuous professional development and the promotion of lifesaving skills among healthcare professionals.

Wider emergency-care impact

The expansion of BLS training to Larkana could have implications beyond individual healthcare workers. A larger pool of trained professionals in hospitals and healthcare facilities can improve the availability of personnel capable of providing immediate assistance during medical emergencies.

DUHS said the partnership is expected to contribute to a more skilled and emergency-ready healthcare workforce across Sindh and Pakistan, while bringing standardized training closer to healthcare professionals who may otherwise face barriers in accessing internationally certified courses.

The agreement also provides a platform for the two institutions to potentially expand professional training and continuous medical education opportunities in the region.

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