Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani has said that the government has made health a high priority as the welfare of the people depends on the investment in this vital sector. He expressed these views at the sixth convocation of Ziauddin University here on Friday to confer degrees on 138 students.
Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad and Senior Minister Pir Mazharul Haq were also present on this occasion. "The principles of our healthy policy, as per our manifesto, have been to guarantee access to a doctor for every citizen of Pakistan through national healthy service, this policy encompasses prevention of diseases, affordable medicines to all the sick and needy and the provision of good medical education and training", he said.
The Prime Minister said that the Lady Health Workers (LHW) programme, which was initiated by the PPP government, has been a most successful initiative in the preventive health sector in the last two decades. It has reduced mother and child mortality rates.
He pointed out that the government will further consolidate this programme and take the number of LHWs up to 200,000 in the next five years, extending it to Katchi Abadis in urban areas. "We hope to introduce a scheme for inducting 10,000 male health workers who will be inducted in NWFP and Balochistan as per our manifesto".
He said that the graduating doctors should not consider themselves as 'learned people' but as the 'learning ones'. As is the case with any discipline, the filed of medicine is also a 'living' field, he said and added that a doctor must consider himself as a real service provider, a good source of his product, which in his case is caring and healing. He must view his patients as clients who need to be satisfied and not unhappy customers.
He said that Ziauddin University is moving from strength to strength and has now entered the second decade of its existence. "The name of Dr Sir Ziauddin Ahmed that you carry, evloves round your special responsibilities", he said and added "I am confident that Chancellor Dr Asim Hussain and Vice Chancellor Dr Anwar Ejaz Beg are cognisant of their responsibilities".
Speaking on the occasion, Chancellor of Ziauddin University Dr Asim Hussain, said that the university after successfully completing its first decade has now entered a new phase of advancement in the field of education. He said that the varsity's development programme envisaged shifting of the College of Pharmacy to the Education City. He said that the colleges of engineering, business management, physical sciences, mathematics, social sciences and liberal arts, law and mass communication have also been planned in different phases.
Congratulating the students on their graduation, the Chancellor wished them and their families a happy future. He also thanked the Vice-Chancellor, the faculty and especially the former Chancellor Dr Shahid Aziz Siddiqui who symbolises an enviable blend of intellect and administrative acumen.
The college, which was granted permission in 1994 to commence postgraduate degrees/diplomas courses, is also recognised by the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan and Pakistan Medical and Dental Council. The varsity has three campuses in the city at Clifton, North Nazimabad and Keamari, he added.
He said that Ziauddin University was the first university in the private sector to receive a Sindh Government provincial charter in 1995. "It was the vision of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto who visioned to encourage higher education in the private sector", he said and added now there are over 50 private degree awarding institutions in the private sector in Pakistan. He announced to change the name of Ziauddin College of Pharmacy as "Shaheed Benazir Bhutto College of Pharmacy" as a tribute of the university for a great leader.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of the university Dr Anwar Ejaz Beg thanked the Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani for his presence at the convocation ceremony.
He said that the past year has seen high intellectual and administrative satisfaction for the university. Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has upgraded the Medical College from the Provisional to Comprehensive Recognised status. The Higher Education Commission has also raised the standing of the university from "X" to "W" status which implies that it now fulfils all conditions laid down by the federal cabinet.
He said that at present the university, in conjunction with Indus Earth, an NGO, is working in the coastal areas of Sindh. The university has also trained Master Trainers to provide indigenous medical backup to four coastal villages for the ongoing CIDA supported project.
Ziauddin University prides itself in creating a student-friendly atmosphere where aspiring professionals are treated as fellow professionals, he added. As many as 138 students were conferred degrees at the 6th convocation. Among the graduates, there are 64 MBBS, BSC Medical Technology 2 (Batch 6 Honours), 3 (Batch 7 Honours), 20 (Batch 8), BSC Medical Technology (Lab Medicine) 4 (Batch 7), 10 (Batch 8) MD/MS Honorary Degree 6, MD (Oncology) 2, Master in Clinical Laboratory 1, Bachelor in Physical Therapy 22 and 6 M. Phil students.