• msarfraz@hsa.edu.pk
  • +92-51-9522290-4 Ext. 132
  • +92-51-9255591
  • B103 (Ground Floor) Health Services Academy Chakshahzad , Islamabad

Dr. Mariyum Sarfraz

Associate Professor

Medical doctor with Master’s (Health Policy and Planning), and PhD (Public Health and Community Medicine). With over 15 years of experience in public health, my focus has been on the health programs for sexual and reproductive health and infectious disease (preventive and curative) programs.

  • Extensive experience in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and family planning (FP), collaborating with bilateral donors (USAID and DFID), multilateral agencies (WHO, UNFPA, and UNICEF), INGOs (Jhpiego, Ipas, and Save the Children), public sector institutions (federal MoNHSRC, Planning Commission, and provincial Departments of Health), and the private sector.
  • Proficient in effectively mobilizing resources for SRH and infectious disease initiatives through government channels, development partners, and competitive grants.
  • Demonstrated expertise in establishing and maintaining diverse multilateral and multi-country partnership consortiums, fostering collaboration for successful execution of SRH and infectious disease projects.
  • Proven ability  to  navigate  complex  negotiations  and  establish  productive  collaborations  with  government departments, UN partners, and diverse international consortia, ensuring effective implementation.
  • Strong track record of securing sustainable funding streams through various sources and grant mechanisms, contributing to the success of SRH and infectious disease programs.
  • Published researcher with a notable record of contributions to the field of SRH, with multiple articles published in peer-reviewed journals, showcasing expertise in evidence-based practices and innovative approaches.
  • Effective leadership and management of reproductive health and infectious disease programs and research teams, leading to successful outcomes in national policy and strategy development.
  • Proficiency in conducting comprehensive research across the life cycle, utilizing evidence-based approaches to inform program design, implementation, and evaluation.
  • Strong project management skills encompassing planning, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation to achieve project goals and desired outcomes.
  • Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, enabling effective engagement with stakeholders at all levels and clear communication of complex ideas.
  • Active contribution to the professional growth and development of younger colleagues through mentorship, inclusive internship opportunities, and project engagement, fostering knowledge sharing and skill development in sexual and reproductive health and health systems.
  • Proven ability to achieve results in multicultural environments, promoting inclusivity, gender equality, and human rights.

Disciplines

  • Global Health

Research Areas

  • Health Sector Reform
  • Health care Financing
  • Health system evaluation
  • Maternal Health and health systems strengthening
  • Health policy Analysis
  • Quality Management in Healthcare

Grants and Research

Dr. Sarfraz has been involved in research projects in various capacities including Principle, Co-principle Investigator and Technical Advisor. The detail is as under:

  1. Data Analyst for TRF

  2. Principal Investigator for a community based research, funded by RAF

  3. Principal Investigator for Evaluation of Mercy Corps operations in Quetta, Pakistan

  4. Team leader for Development of NCD Control and Prevention Strategy for Pakistan

  5. Team Leader for WHO-CHOICE Unit Costs of Health Facilities.

Education

  • PhD Public Health and Community Medicine (University of New South Wales, Australia)
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource for Health Management (Queen Margret University, Edinburgh)
  • MSc Health, Population and society ( London School of Economics)
  • Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)

Teaching

  • Health System and Management
  • Health Policy and Planning and Research Methosds

Experience

  • Director Programs
    Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Pakistan
    February 2024 to present
  • Associate Professor,
    Global Health
    Health Services Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan
    May 2021 to Present
  • Technical Lead-EmONC HFA
    UNICEF, Pakistan
    September to December 2023
  • Technical Lead-EmONC HFA
    IBBS Round-6, Pakistan
    UNDP/Global Fund
    September 2022 to December 2023
  • Principal Researcher (Pakistan)
    Implementation Researcher for Ante Natal Corticosteroids to Prevent Stillbirths and Infant Mortality
    WHO, Geneva
    March 2022 to Present 2026
  • Technical Lead
    Oxygen Therapy Guidelines for Children, Pakistan
    UNICEF, Pakistan
    2022 to Present
  • Program Director
    Enhanced national and subnational capacity to provide integrated sexual and reproductive health services.
    UNFPA (Implementation Partner), Pakistan
    2021 to Present
  • Technical Lead
    Quality of care for maternal and newborn health and MPDSR
    UNCEF, Pakistan
    2022
  • C0-Principal Investigator and Qualitative Evaluation Lead-Third Party Validation of Sehat Sahulat Program, Pakistan
    Government of Pakistan
    2022-Present
  • Lead Advisor
    Process Evaluation, IMPACT Project – Improving Outcomes in Mental and Physical Multi-morbidity and developing Research Capacity in medical
    universities
    NIHR, UK
    2021-Present
  • Technical and Administrative Lead
    Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) Survey of 12 UHC Districts,
    Pakistan
    WHO, Pakistan
    2021-2022
  • Principal Investigator (Pakistan)
    Understanding gaps in delivering comprehensive SRH for sexual and GBV survivors in humanitarian and conflict settings-Multicounty Study
    IPAS, International
    2022
  • Technical Lead
    Localization of SDG 3 Baseline Indicators for Pakistan
    WHO
    2016-2018
  • Other Positions/Experience
    Analyst & Writer for National Institute of Population Studies, Pakistan (2017).
    • Principal investigator for multiple research projects funded by WHO, UNFPA, RAF, UNICEF, Ipas (2011 to date).
    • Research Associate for GiZ – Health Services Academy (2008 to 2010),
    • Clinical Quality Assurance Officer at Shifa International Hospital (2006), and
    • Surgical Resident at PIMS (2005).

 

Publications

  1. Sarfraz M, Hamid S, A, Kulane, Jayasuriya R. The wife should do as her husband advises’: Understanding factors influencing contraceptive use decision making among married Pakistani couples – qualitative study (Accepted for publication in PlosOne)
  2. An assessment of facility readiness for comprehensive abortion care in 12 districts of Pakistan using the WHO Service Availability and Readiness Assessment tool (Accepted for publication in Journal: Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (ZRHM); Article ID: ZRHM 2178265)
  3. Sarfraz M, Hamid S, Rawstorne P, Ali M, Jayasuriya R. Role of Social Network in Decision Making for Increasing Uptake and Continuing Use of Long Acting Reversible (LARC) Methods in Pakistan. Reprod Health. December 2020. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs130170/v1
  4. Ayyub H, Sarfraz M, … KM-J of AM, 2018 U. Association of antenatal depression and household food insecurity among pregnant women: a cross-sectional study from slums of Lahore. J Ayub Med Coll. 2018. http://ayubmed.edu.pk/jamc/index.php/jamc/article/view/2799. Accessed February 11, 2021.
  5. Naveed I, Hussain A, … MS-PJ of, 2017 U. Assessment of job satisfaction among nurses working in children hospital, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. Pak J Med Res. 2017;55(4).
  6. Azmat Rana S, Sarfraz M, Rana SA, Sarfraz M. 2016 Job Preferences of Doctors for Working in Rural Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan: a Discrete Choice Experiment. J Healthc Commun. December . doi:10.4172/2472-1654.100043
  7. Mahar SA, Sarfraz M, Mushtaque M, Shaikh PA, Humbi AA. Outcome of Facility Based Management on Severely Malnourished Children in District Ghotki and Larkana, Sindh. Pakistan Journal of Medical Research. 2016;55(3)
  8. Rana SA, Sarfraz M, Kamran I, Jadoon H. Preferences of Doctors for Working In Rural Islamabad
  9. Capital Territory, Pakistan: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad. 2016;28(3)
  10. Sarfraz, M. and S. Hamid (2016). “Exploring Managers’ Perspectives on MNCH Program in Pakistan: A Qualitative Study.” PloS one 11(1): e0146665.
  11. Sarfraz, M., et al. (2016). “Social And Societal Barriers In Utilization Of Maternal Health Care Services In Rural Punjab, Pakistan.” Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad 27(4).
  12. Khalil, B., Sarfraz, M. and Khan, R. (2015). “Socio-Economic and Demographic Determinants of Contraceptive Uptake in Pakistan.” Pakistan Journal of Medical Research 54(2): 40.
  13. Sarfraz, M. and S. Hamid (2014). “Challenges in delivery of skilled maternal care – experiences of community midwives in Pakistan.” BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 14(1): 59.
  14. Sarfraz, M, Yaqoob, A, Hamid, S. Contextual determinants of Skilled Birth Attendant utilization: an In-depth Analysis of Pakistan Demographic Household Survey. Pak J of Public Health, Islamabad 2013; 3(4):31-38