The Journal of Rawalpindi Medical College (JRMC), in close collaboration with the Department of Research & Development (R&D) at Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU), actively promotes and documents initiatives that address the critical interface between climate change and public health. One of the most significant undertakings in this domain has been RMU’s response to the catastrophic floods that impacted millions across Pakistan. This response, spearheaded by Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Umar, established a comprehensive humanitarian framework encompassing mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery—with JRMC playing a key role in supporting and disseminating these efforts to the wider academic and healthcare communities.

As part of the Flood Relief Action Program, RMU deployed mobile medical camps to the most affected regions of South Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. These camps delivered vital healthcare services to thousands of individuals suffering from gastroenteritis, skin infections, respiratory illnesses, and other waterborne conditions. In addition to medical care, the teams provided emergency food supplies, clean drinking water, and hygiene kits, addressing the immediate survival needs of flood-impacted communities.

Recognizing the looming threat of infectious disease outbreaks in the aftermath of the floods, RMU adopted a preventive public health strategy. The university developed and widely distributed two innovative solutions: the “Ready RMU – Preventive Kit” and the “Ready RMU – Hygiene Kit”. These kits were specifically designed to combat malaria and gastroenteritis, two of the most common post-disaster health threats. The kits contained insect repellents, oral rehydration salts, water purification tablets, and basic hygiene products—enabling vulnerable populations to take proactive steps toward disease prevention.

To further strengthen community resilience, RMU collaborated with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to author and disseminate “Post-Flood Community Health Guidelines” in Urdu, ensuring that health education reached even the most remote and underserved populations. These guidelines focused on disease prevention, sanitation, clean water usage, and early identification of common infections—providing crucial support to local health workers and community leaders working on the ground.

Through this collaboration, JRMC has served as both a publishing platform and a strategic partner, helping to highlight and analyze these efforts in scholarly forums. By promoting this innovative and integrated model of climate-responsive healthcare, JRMC continues to fulfill its mission of disseminating evidence-based practices, fostering interdisciplinary research, and advocating for sustainable health systems in the face of climate change.