PARSA Trust is registered Non-profit company (under section 42 of the Companies Act,2017) established to aid hepatitis elimination efforts in Pakistan.The trust runs a daily hepatology clinic at Al-Rae Hospital,Nowshehra Road Gujranwala.
To become the leading youth-led movement tackling preventable diseases through education and awareness.
PEYAM will work with students and teachers across academic institutions to:
Project ECHO Youth Ambassadors Movement (PEYAM) was founded by Dr. Asad Choudhry in 2017 to engage students in combating Viral Hepatitis, a preventable disease that has grown into a silent epidemic in Pakistan. Home to nearly 20 million cases of Hepatitis B and C, Pakistan accounts for about 10% of the global patient count. Functioning under the umbrella of the PARSA trust (a registered non-profit organization in Pakistan), PEYAM creates greater awareness regarding preventable diseases at a grass-root level. We train and utilize youth ambassadors to deliver engaging informational messages to students, that broaden and enhance their knowledge about these preventable diseases, aged 7-11 years in working class communities through numerous awareness activities. PEYAM has worked with nationally-acclaimed writer, including Mr.Musharraf Ali Farooqi, to create accessible story-telling sessions to educate and disseminate information surrounding hepatitis and its prevention. Through greater youth involvement and engagement, PEYAM aims to kick-start a global movement where high school students take charge of spreading important public-health messages within their respective communities. PEYAM – Project ECHO Youth Ambassadors Movement
PEYAM’s novel story-telling mechanisms creates a relatable and engaging atmosphere which ensures improved learning and retention. The messages imparted by our trainers are then carried forward via informal conversations to previously inaccessible under-served households. Such information could improve awareness, hygiene, and decrease the spread of diseases in vulnerable communities.
Members of the PEYAM community are stepping up to make this existing model expand internationally, by increasing the number of partners and youth ambassadors to improve our global outreach, and incorporating a wider variety of diseases and trainings that target more specific audiences.
Chaudhry Sohail Akhtar is a very prominent figure in business community at State level, being the key person, lead and head of CKD Agri – pioneers in import and inhouse breeding of ‘Hybrid Vegetable Seeds’ in Pakistan. An enthusiastic entrepreneur taking his Company not only to national but to international skies with a success record of last eighty years. He is former Vice President – SAP (Seed Association of Pakistan) and member of SAARC as well.He is playing an indispensable role as Senior Vice President of Al Raee Hospital, Gujranwala – Base Camp of PARSA Healthnet Echo. His mother lost his life due to Hepatitis C, at a time when she couldn’t be taken for transplant. Now, elimination of Hepatitis C from Pakistan is his passion and being zealous Chairman of PARSA Trust, he has set the stage to turn the dream into reality.
A law graduate from well-renowned University of the Punjab, Tabarak Hussain (Advocate) is the creative mind behind Tabarak Law Associates, Gujranwala, a law firm enjoying – ACCA Approved Employer – Trainee Development Gold status paving way for keen youngsters seeking career in Taxation. He is lifetime member of District Bar Association Gujranwala, Lahore Tax Bar Association and member Lahore High Court Bar Association. He has served as President Gujranwala Tax Bar Association for year 2015 -16. Mr. Hussain is a philanthropist, eager to serve community and is volunteering his services as Non-Clinical Consultant PARSA HealthNet ECHO, Pakistan and Trustee, Secretary & Legal Advisor of PARSA Trust, Gujranwala (Pakistan).
A graduate of King Edward Medical College Lahore, Dr. Asad Choudhry is consultant physician & gastroenterologist, Chaudhry Hospital, Gujranwala [Private Practice]; Clinical Director PARSA Trust GI & Liver Clinic, Al-Raee Hospital Nowshehra Road, Gujranwala; Visiting faculty and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Fatima Memorial Hospital, Shadman, Lahore. He is Senior Vice President, Pakistan Society of Hepatology. He is an active member of Pakistan Society of Gastroenterology & GI Endoscopy; American College of Gastroenterology; European Association for Study of Liver and a member of American Association for Study of Liver Disease. He continues serving pivotal role as Vice Chairman PARSA Trust and Director PARSA HealthNet ECHO Pakistan; Board Member, The Health Foundation, Karachi. He has over 20 publications on various topics mainly related to hepatology