INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN GLOBAL NEUROSURGERY AT FATIMA JINNAH MEDICAL UNIVERSITY

On the upcoming occasion of Women’s Day, the Department of Neurosurgery of Fatima Jinnah Medical University organized an international seminar under the supervision of Dean Neurosciences Professor Abdul Hameed on women Empowerment in Global Neurosurgery, at Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Lahore. Vice-Chancellor Fatima Jinnah Medical University Professor Dr. Khalid Masood Gondal graced the occasion as Patron-in-Chief. Director, Quality Enhancement Cell, Prof. Dr. Bilquis Shabbir, acted as Stage Secretary.

The seminar was attended by a delegation of International Neurosurgeons including Prof. Dr. Gail Rosseau, MD, a Clinical Professor of Neurosurgery, George Washington University (Washington DC) as a Guest Speaker and Prof. Richard Moser, MD Neurological Surgery and Radiation Oncology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Massachusetts (USA), and Prof. Franco Servadei, Neurosurgeon at the Department of Neurosurgery of Humanities Clinical and Research Hospital Centre (IRCCS), (Italy) graced the occasion as Guest of Honour.

Prof. Naveed Ashraf, a retired senior professor of Neurosurgery at Allama Iqbal Medical College, served as the special facilitator of the event.

Among the specialists in Neurosurgery, Professor Asif Bashir, Professor Fauzia Sajjad, and Professor Shahzad Hussain also attended as special guests.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Khalid Masood Gondal said that Fatima Jinnah Medical University has unique features, including the Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kamran Khalid Khawaja received the Best University Teacher Award from the Higher Education Commission, the establishment of the world’s largest institute of Thalassemia and other Genetic Disorders, the unprecedented services of the Fatima Jinnah Alumni Association in flood-affected areas, and the establishment of the Telemedicine Department during the Corona pandemic, due to which Director, Quality Enhancement Cell Prof. Dr. Bilquis Shabbir has been nominated for the Presidential Pride of Performance Award. He said an Artificial Intelligence Department would soon be set up at Fatima Jinnah Medical University. He added that state-of-the-art healthcare facilities are being provided in the Department of Neurosurgery of Fatima Jinnah Medical University, and the training in the specialty of Neurosurgery is being reformed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan in collaboration with the faculty of Neurosurgery. Principal Prof. Noreen Akmal welcomed all the guests, including the international delegation. She gave a short briefing about the history of Fatima Jinnah Medical College. Prof. Naveed Akbar Hotiana, Head of the Paediatrics Department, briefed the participants about Spina Bifida. He discussed in detail the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of Spina Bifida.

Prof. Gail Russo, in her address, highly appreciated the enthusiasm of the undergraduate students. She expressed happiness to be at Fatima Jinnah Medical University. She highly acknowledged the unparalleled service of Fatima Jinnah Medical University and also appreciated the outstanding service and high caliber of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan. She also mentioned the statement of Ms. Priyanka Mathur, a member of the G4 Alliance at WHO on the importance of Folic Acid Food Fortification as an essential component for the prevention of Spina Bifida. She also highlighted the goals and high standards of the International Neurosurgery Committee. She stressed the need for the provision of the best neurosurgery facilities under International Neurosurgery Societies, which is to be accessible to everyone and everywhere. She concluded her speech by highlighting the importance of proper use of folic acid fortification for the prevention of Spina Bifida. The Registrar, Prof. Mohammad Nadeem, Dean Prof. Naveed Akbar Hotiana, Prof. Aliya Zahid, faculty members, and a large number of students attended the seminar. Souvenirs and shields were distributed among the guests.

After the seminar, the Foreign Delegate, accompanied by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Khalid Masood Gondal, and faculty members, visited the revamped C-Block of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and expressed their pleasure and satisfaction for excellent service delivery.

Prof. Gail Russo inaugurated the New Modular Operation Theatre in the Mother and Child Block, SGRH, Lahore.