INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON LUPUS AND INAUGRATION OF LUPUS RESEARCH CENTER AT FATIMA JINNAH MEDICAL UNIVERSITY

A Seminar was held on Lupus Learning Initiative & Lupus Research Launch Quality Healthcare organized by Arthritis Care Foundation & Department of Rheumatology & Medicine Fatima Jinnah Medical University (FJMU), Lahore in the Auditorium, FJMU, Lahore.
President AFJOG Dr. Muneera Ahmed graced the occasion as Chief Guest.
Vice Chancellor Fatima Jinnah Medical University Prof. Dr. Khalid Masud Gondal welcomed the Chief Guest Dr. Muneera Ahmed.
Paediatric Rheumatologist National Institute of Health USA Dr. Laura Lewandowski, and Dr. Sarfaraz Hasni, from NIH USA Prof. Dr. Nighat Mir Ahmad, Rheumatologist Prof. Muhammad Ahmed Saeed, Rheumatologist Prof. Dr. Samaira Farman Raja and Head of Rheumatology Fatima Jinnah Medical University / Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Dr. Bilal Azeem Butt attended the seminar as Rheumatology Experts.
The main objective of the seminar is to educate the awareness about the devastating effects of lupus (also known as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) and to encourage those people who are fighting this disease around the globe.
In the welcome address, Vice Chancellor Fatima Jinnah Medical University Prof. Dr. Khalid Masud Gondal thanked the Special Guest President AFJOG Dr. Muneera Ahmed for participating in the seminar. The services provided in the Rheumatology Department are unprecedented. The Head of Rheumatology Department from different hospitals are trained by Prof. Dr. Nighat Mir Ahmed. He called her Mother of Rheumatology to Professor Dr. Nighat Mir Ahmed. He further informed that Postgraduate Program of Rheumatology has been started at Fatima Jinnah Medical University/ Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore. He also thanked Dr. Laura Lewandowski from National Institute of Health, Dr. Sarfaraz Hasni from National Institute of Health, who came from America, and apprised that Fatima Jinnah Medical University is the only Medical Institution for women in Pakistan.
He also appreciated the unprecedented services rendered by the Alumni Associations Fatima Jinnah Medical University for the flood victims. At the end of his address, he said that Fatima Jinnah Institute of Mother and Child Health, a state of the art institution attached to Fatima Jinnah Medical University, will be inaugurated soon.
Prof. Dr. Nighat Mir Ahmed gave a detailed discussion about the initial journey of Arthritis Care Foundation (ACF). She apprised that the founders of ACF started Community Services in 1998 in Pakistan with the establishment of Rheumatology Clinics at Akhtar Mubarik Referral Centre, Lahore, in collaboration with AFJOG and Fatima Memorial Hospital’s free clinics. These services were expanded to collaborate with the Health project of Behbud Association, Lahore, in 2005.
She added that the Arthritis Care Foundation provides medicines, diagnostic support and joint replacements for arthritis patients, as well as scholarships for Rheumatology Training.
Dr. Laura Lewandowski, Pediatric Rheumatologist from National Institutes of Health, USA discussed Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in detail in her address. She explained the diagnosis, types and differences of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus as compared to other diseases.
Dr. Sarfaraz Hasni National Institute of Health USA in his address discussed in detail about the problems of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Obstetric Patients such as infertility and pregnancy.
In the closing address, President AFJOG Dr. Muneera Ahmed thanked Vice Chancellor Fatima Jinnah Medical University Prof. Dr. Khalid Masud Gondal.
Pro-Vice Chancellor Fatima Jinnah Medical University Prof. Dr. Shamsa Humayun and Head of Department Medicine Unit-2/ Director Quality Enhancement Cell Prof. Dr. Bilquis Shabbir thanked all the Guests.
At the end of the seminar, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Khalid Masud Gondal distributed shields to the Chief Guest, and other participants.