The 2nd International Paediatric Urology workshop was inaugurated at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, Dr Khalfe Bille, a representative of World Health Organisation (WHO), praised the services of SIUT. "Dr Adib Rizvi and his team are on the forefront for transfer of technology especially in treating children's congenital problems through high tech surgery," the chief guest added.
He said the children living in distress and as outcasts are provided a new quality of life through the highly skilled surgery performed by the SIUT faculty of experienced international surgeons. It is an occasion to highlight the pivotal role of SIUT for getting approval of newly passed organ transplant bill from the parliament, he praised.
He said the organ transplant bill would help the country to curb the menace of organ trafficking and transplant tourism. It has heralded the era of deceased organ donation, which would benefit not only patients of kidney failure, but also the patients requiring a head, liver and lungs. "WHO is pursuing to make SIUT a collaborating centre for organ transplantation in the Eastern Mediterranean Region," he informed.
Philip G Ransley said the course reflects the tremendous progress made by SIUT in pediatric urology in the 12 months. "It introduces the major leap into the 21st Century with the application of Laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery to pediatric urology, he said, adding this still has a long learning curve but as tremendous potential benefits for the future of surgery for children in Pakistan".
He expressed a hope that the experience and development at SIUT would foster the development of dedicated pediatric urology units in Pakistan. "This would lead to an improved outcome for unfortunate children with severe congenital abnormalities, who require extreme reconstructive surgery to achieve a good quality of life and to live with dignity and social acceptance in spite of the difficulties," he maintained.
Professor Adib-ul-Hasan Rizvi Director (SIUT) said it is an important event as the surgical treatment of congenital anomalies in children is highly technical and required a great deal of expertise. SIUT also invites experienced urologists to conduct workshops and live surgery show, techniques to a large number of participants from neighbouring countries. The teaching faculty includes, Philip Ransley, a senior Urologist from UK and Dr Harjeet Kaur Dhillon, from the Great Ormond Street Hospital, London.