Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, a Dow Graduate and the first Chancellor of Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) here on Saturday while announcing that the government would continue to strongly deal with terrorists also sought maximum co-operation of all peace-loving citizens, professionals and students in the very endeavour.
He was speaking at the concluding session of a day long seminar on "Multi-disciplinary Approach to Common Malignancies" held under the aegis of DUHS in collaboration with cancer unit, Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK).
Maintaining that cancer was a dreadful disease he cited terrorism to be equally horrendous, more so in the scenario where young people within the range of 15 to 25 years were being trapped by a small segment of individuals who were inclined to impose their beliefs upon others and for which they were adopting extreme options.
The governor in this regard also referred to recent trend of "suicidal bombing," an alarming occurrence making both government and the society in general equally responsible to prevent and sensitise people about the misconceived notions of a few.
Specifically addressing the students, Dr Ibad mentioned that he himself was a graduate of the institution which had played a tremendous role in the intellectual capacity building of its students and urged the former to realise their responsibility towards the country.
He called upon the undergraduates to strengthen the concept of "Peaceful Society" with absolutely no provision for extremism or destructive mindset.
The Sindh governor mentioned with great pride that his alma mater played an important role in his professional as well as a political career and that he holds special sentiments for DUHS.
He on the occasion also stated that the Sindh government was focussing on health, education and social welfare sectors to improve the life quality of the citizens in general adding that it was in the very backdrop that public-private partnerships was being encouraged.
Acknowledging the importance of the symposium and the needed health care provided to hundreds of cancer patient from across the province the Sindh governor also announced a sum of Rs one million for the oncology unit, established only a year back at DUHS-Civil Hospital, Karachi.
He mentioned that while oncology unit established at CHK was first of its kind in any of the Sindh government hospitals and announced that similar facilities would be set up in other health care institutes of the provincial government across Sindh.
Appreciating Pakistan Cancer Patients Welfare Society (PCPWS), it was particularly reminded that the CHK Oncology Unit was an outcome of the ongoing public-private partnership efforts in the health sector.
He on the occasion also announced up-gradation of the post of oncologist to clinical oncologist besides assuring that all needed assistance with particular reference to qualified staff and equipment would also be ensured.
Earlier, Advisor to the Chief Minister for Health, Faisal Gabol, in the inaugural session of the seminar regretted delayed establishment of an Oncology Unit in one of the oldest teaching hospitals of the country.
However, in the same breath he said a beginning has been finally made and all out efforts would be made to make it a patient friendly centre with provision for all needed facilities.
Dr Noor Muhammad Soomro speaking on the occasion referred to acute shortage of staff as well as space mentioning that massive turn over of patients enhances urgency that the unit started as a two-bed utility must be turned into a 20-bed facility.
Regarding the symposium he said it highlighted the much-needed efforts to prevent the disease and also to improve the existent facilities for its treatment and management.
According to him it was heartbreaking that significant majority of cancer patients approach qualified professionals and reach relevant facilities very late making success rate of their survival quite low - despite constant improvement in the treatment options.
Dr Suresh Kumar, Chairman, Scientific Committee of the Symposium and Sindh health secretary were also among the speakers.
The Sindh Governor handed shields to the guest speakers including Dr Jawad Akhter Gillani from IRNA Peshawar, Dr Nadeem Abbasi from MINAR Multan, Dr Shakeeb Yunus from Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital Lahore, Colonel Dr Tariq Nadeem Ansari of Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Dr Siraj Abbasi (LINAR-Larkana), Professor Shahryar of Mayo Hospital Lahore, Dr Jawaid Alam (DUHS), Dr M. M. Shakir (CHK), Dr Amyn Alidina, Dr Azmeena V. Mohammad and Dr Salman Adil from AKU, Dr Tahir Shamsi from Bismillah Taqee Center, Professor Nusrat Khan, Professor M. Saeed Oureishi and Dr Noor Memon from CHK, Dr Naila Zahid from Liaquat National Hospital.
Special awards were also given to Professor Saleem Ilyas, Dr Aftab Memon, Saleem Mossani, Soofie Khan, Haider Shamsi, Haroon Silat and many others for their contribution to the establishment of oncology unit.
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