Fist Day’s activities in the Symposium by Medical and Biological Sciences at UOG
“Genetics loads the gun but environment pulls the trigger.” In Pakistan one in nine is likely to catch cancer whereas in India one in twenty two is prone to cancer. This huge disparity in propensity to catch cancer between two countries which are geographically contiguous; historically, culturally and politically have evolved out of similar conditions; speaks volumes of apathetic socio-economic conditions prevailing in Pakistan. We must change this hopeless situation of vulnerability to fatal diseases by improving environmental conditions, bettering health cover and improving living conditions of our populace. Early detection of cancer is easier to cure. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy is now available because of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Center at Gujranwala. Mammography is important for females to detect the onslaught of Breast Cancer; obesity smoking and Alcohol intake are the tree main sources of cancer. Breast Cancer is a systematic disease. Regular screening can be useful in preventing cancer.
“Prevention is always better than cure”. Cancer has a molecular and cellular base. There are more than 100 varieties of Cancer but basically they are genetic diseases. They penetrate into human genome, damage genes and bring about mutation in the D.N.A. These views were expressed by Dr Sohail Murad Director GENUM Gujranwala while presenting his research on Breast Diseases and addressing a National Symposium on “Biochemical and Molecular Basis of Human Diseases” at the university of Gujrat. This symposium was a joint venture of the ‘Institute of Chemical and Biological Sciences’ (ICBS) and Nawaz Shareef Medical College (NSMC); symbiotic organs of UOG, through the ‘Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
The Office for Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) contributed by procuring funding through the patronage of the Higher Education Commission (HEC). Earlier on Prof Dr Mohammad Nizamuddin Vice Chancellor UOG addressed the house as Chief Guest and opened the highly skilled, technologically advanced and research based, scientifically informed, medically engineered deliberations, lectures and speeches. He congratulated ICBS (UOG) and Prof Dr Sohail Murad Director GINUM Gujranwala for the successful opening of the symposium and formally declared the symposium open. Dr Ambar Afroze acted as stage secretary and later on supplemented by Dr Ahsan Asif. Dr Sajid Mehmood Head “Dept. of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology” presented a report about his department and explained basic concepts of the proposition, how etiology of disease is made transparent by going deep into the underlying bio-chemical processes. The first days’ proceedings of the symposium were chaired by Dr Syed Talat Iqbal Shah NSMC, whereas Prof Dr Mohammad Nizamuddin Vice Chancellor UOG was the Chief Guest. Dr Zafar Gill NSMC, Dr Razia Iqbal ICBS and Dr Muzna Zaheer ICBS, were seated on the dice as panelists/members.
Professor Dr Mohammad Faheem Malik in his deliberated lecture explained the role of insect in the causing and spread of diseases. Insects constitute 80% of the discovered fauna. He explained that bubonic plague is caused by flea and Dengue by mosquito bite. Besides rats sand flies cause many diseases. Dr Shahida Husnain NSMC in her lecture on cancer discussed the use of Alcohol; smoking, narcotics and sedentary lifestyle as responsible for breeding cancer. Sexual indiscretions in sexual activities is responsible for generating and propagating cervical cancer. She stressed the need for a neat and clean life to make the best of our existence. Dr Ghulam Ara from Army Medical College Wah delivered her lecture on fatal diseases especially Hepatitis and Tuberculosis. The house took great interest in attending to the research oriented observations and asked many questions triggering at times an interesting debate.
The receptive house mostly constituted students and the faculty. Prominent among them were Dr Ghazi Iqbal. Head Dept of Zoology, Dr Mohammad Danish Head Dept. of Chemistry, Dr Tahir Aqeel Director QEC, Dr Freshullah Director Social Sciences, Dr Shahid Hussain, Prof Syed Shabeer Hussain Shah, Professor Humayum Ghauri (Media & Publications).
