Introduction of Bridge Consultants Foundation

Bridge Consultants Foundation is a not for profit organization established in April, 2004, registered with Government of Sindh Pakistan as a Trust, under Trust Act 1882. Main objectives of the organization are to promote research, training, innovative public health interventions and advocacy for better health, education and social development of impoverished communities in the country. Our strategy is to bridge the gap between civil societies, governmental organizations, academic institutions and donors, through service delivery, advocacy, researchand trainings.

Our human resources encompasses a cadre of professionals ranging from researchers, public Health Professionals, teachers, educationists, clinicians, social scientists and health care workers who hold terminals degrees in their fields such as PhDs from institutes of highest repute in the world. The key individuals strengthen the organization’s capacity bringing with them ample experience of academic excellence, field work, data management and social and clinical practice.

Bridge mainly works on prevention and control of infectious diseases, including Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria, Hepatitis B & C and water borne diseases and non-communicable diseases including prevention of blindness, issues related to drug use and gender discrepancies.

Main sources of funding include national and international grants and consultancies secured on competitive basis. Director Projects has strong team of professionals who work with Bridge as full time /part time employees or consultants on assignment basis. Proposals are developed and submitted to national and international donors for funding. On average ten to fifteen proposals are developed and submitted to different donors annually.

Four members board of trustees is overall responsible for policy making approval of accounts and management. Board of trustees meetings are held at least twice a year or more frequently as needed. The board of trustees selects Executive Director among trustees which looks after the day to day affairs of trust and reports to the board.

Bridge has main three functional departments i.e. Administration and Finance department, Monitoring, Research and Training Department and Programs / Projects Departments. Each department is headed by a trained professional as Director and has a team of professionals full time/part time employees/volunteers, managers, trainee fellows and support staff. The Executive Director coordinates overall functioning of the three units and reports to the Board of Trustees.

Bridge has developed standard operational procedures, HR policies, and financial policies for managing projects resources as well as monitor performance according to international acceptable standards. Strict internal financial controls are maintained to avoid misappropriations through internal audit system. Finance Department is headed by a Finance Manager who is a qualified Chartered Accountant.Operational and Monitoring & evaluation activities of the organization are managed and supervised by the Manager (Operations and M&E) who is a very senior experienced person.

Bridge has received Civil Society Organization (CSO) Certification Award from the Pakistan Center for Philanthropy (PCP) after verification of Internal Governance, Financial Management and Program Delivery.

Bridge has experience of managing large scale projects since more than Ten years, and has obtained grants on competitive basis from Donors and funding agencies including Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM), USAID, UNFPA, AIDS International Training and Research Program (AITRP), National Institute of Health (NIH), USA, WHO (Geneva and EMRO) and other international organizations.
Bridge has also experience of Monitoring and Evaluation of various projects funded by Global Fund, USAID, UNFPA, AIDS International Training and Research Program (AITRP) etc.

Our Focus of Activities is Training Research and Health delivery:

Training of Health Care providers and Public Health Professionals including Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics, Laboratory staff and NGO workers, program Managers.
Development of Training Material such as training manuals, guidelines clinical slides, PowerPoint Presentations.
Capacity Building of NGOs/CBOs, working on HIV/AIDS, TB and Reproductive Health.
Advocacy with policy makers, community leaders, media and political and religious leaders for prevention and control of infectious diseases particularly HIV/AIDS and TB.

To promote empowerment of people living with HIV/AIDS, and Tuberculosis.

Designing and Conducting Research Studies including Epidemiological and Behavioral studies and program evaluation.

Research Capacity Development of academic institute’s public health programs, NGOs, and individuals through organizing workshops, seminars, conferences and publications.

One of the main achievements has been the collaboration and development of an International Training program called AIDS International Training & Research Program (AITRP) which provides short and long term research capacity development trainings to local public health personnel supported by NIH USA. Under AITRP grant about fifty short term and long term training fellowships were provided to individuals commencing from public and private sectors.

Through long term AITRIP fellowship about fifteen individually from different parts of the country have obtained Master and PhD degrees in public health and currently serving in the country in very important positions, including Government departments, academic institutes, national and international NGOs and UN agencies.
In-country training are also conducted and more than 500 Doctors, Public health Professionals, Doctors, NGOs, and health care providers were trained in about 20 different workshops conducted different cities throughout the country.

Besides trainings under AITRP grant several research grants were awarded to public health trainees/ professionals to conduct research studies in the country, on important topics of public health significance related to HIV/AIDS. About 20 research papers has been published in peer reviewed journals.

Capacity development of NGOs and CBOs to provide different trainings for human resources development. Bridge also provides logistics and admin support to NGOs, CBOs and other organizations in organization of trainings/events including workshops, seminars and advocacy meetings.

Health delivery services include, diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted & reproductive tract infections, Care & support of people living with HIV/AIDS. HIV case detection among TB patients and diagnosis and treatment of TB among people living with HIV/AIDS.

• Dr. Sharaf Ali Shah
  
  Degree: MBBS, MSPH
  Speciality: Public Health Professional & Research Specialist
  Present Position/Designation: Trustee/Executive Director
  Bridge Consultants Foundation

• Prof.Dr.M.Rafiq Khanani
  
  Degree: MBBS, PhD
  Speciality: Pathologist
  Present Position/Designation: Trustee
  Bridge Consultants Foundation

• Dr. Arshad Altaf
  
  Degree: Master of Pbulic Health
  Speciality: Public Health Professional & Research Specialist
  Present Position/Designation: Director, Prorams & Projects
  Bridge Consultants Foundation

• Dr.Ghulam Nabi Memon
  
  Degree: MBBS, DPH
  Speciality: Public Health Professional & Management Specialist
  Present Position/Designation: Project Manager

• Mr.Mohammad Umer Abro
  
  Degree: Master of Eonomics
  Speciality: Health Economist / M&E Specialist
  Present Position/Designation: Manager (Operations and M&E)

• Dr.Javed Akhtar Shaikh
  
  Degree: MBBS, MPH
  Speciality: Public Health Specialist
  Present Position: Technical Advisor
  Bridge Consultants Foundation