DUHS Health Expo
To increase awareness among the general public on prevention and management of common healthcare issues, Dow University of Health Sciences DUHS arranged First Dow University Health Expo 2009 from October 3-5, 2009, at Karachi Expo Centre. Ecommerce Gateway Pakistan was the co-organizer of the Exhibition.
The Dow University Health Expo was another step in the continuous efforts of DUHS to bring together health industry of Pakistan for a common objective of increased health awareness among general public of Pakistan, especially in Sindh.
The Event was held for the propagation of basic theme ‘Prevention is Better than Cure’. The exhibition was aimed to increase awareness among GPs and general public to reduce the burden of the diseases in Pakistan.
The DUHS Expo was held in collaboration with Ministry of Health, Govt. of Pakistan; Health Department, Govt. of Sindh; Higher Education Commission; World Health Organization; City District Govt. Karachi and Pharma Bureau of Information & Statistics.
In the Expo there were Stalls of pharmaceuticals companies and other related medical field. Some of the prominent stalls were of B. Braun Pakistan; Bosch Pharmaceuticals; Efroze Chemical Industries; Getz Pharma; High-Q Pharmaceuticals; OBS; Merck; Procter & Gamble Pakistan; Sanofi-Aventis Pakistan; Procter & Gamble Pakistan; Hilton Pharma and Abbott Pakistan. In the exhibition foreign companies such as AIT, USA and Parkway Health, Singapore also participated.
The spectator area in the exhibition concerning various disorders included: Diabetes, Cardiac Diseases, Women & Child Health, Respiratory Disease, Neurological & Psychiatry Disease, Hyperlipidemia, Liver and Gastrointestinal Disease, Oncology, Dentistry, Skin Disease etc.
During the event of the Expo, meetings were held between health industry, representatives and doctors, medical practitioners. Symposiums and workshops were also arranged for Professionals whereas Awareness programs, Educational Health Products & Services, Quiz Competition were arranged for the general visitors. The activities in the exhibition were all free of cost.
On the first day of the exhibition visitors both from medical professions and general public were seen flocking in the Exhibition. The activities included dental checkups, blood pressure monitoring, body mass index calculation, eye testing and screening, psychological tests such as IQ and Personality Assessment, Oral Hygiene Contest and Smile Competition.
During the period of the Expo four different Scientific Seminars on Medicine / Psychiatry; Laboratory Sciences; Transfusion Medicine; ENT / EYE; Tuberculosis and Asthma were arranged. The discussions in these seminars mainly focused on preventive measures for communicable diseases and points on new aspects of management. At the end of each seminar questionnaire session was held in which participants actively participated.
The afternoon and evening sessions comprised of public awareness session. The topics discussed were diabetes, hormonal disorders, live style modification insulin therapy and foot care in diabetes. Maternal and child health public awareness programs included topics of relating to pregnant women and newborn babies, the importance of antenatal care doing self examination for early detection of breast cancer.
Dignitaries such as Dr. Pirzada Qasim, Vice Chancellor of University of Karachi and Sardar Yasin Malik, Chairman, Hilton Pharma (Pvt) Ltd visited Dow University Health Expo as “Guest of Honor” and appreciated organization of such a large-scale event by Dow University of Health Sciences.
On the second day of the exhibition, thousands of enthusiastic visitors both from medical profession and general public were seen rushing to the Expo. The activities included Dental Checkup, Blood Pressure Monitoring, Body Mass Index Calculation (Height & Weight), Eye Testing & Screening, Psychological Tests such as IQ & Personality Assessment, Well Women Clinic, Oral Hygiene Contest and Smile Competition.
The official opening, the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the First Dow University of Health Expo was performed by Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat ur Ebad Khan. Later Dr. Ishrat ur Ebad Khan Governor Sindh as a Chief Guest distributed the souvenir among the team of First Dow University Health Expo 2009. He greeted the organizers on arranging such a successful event. Furthermore, he appreciated the exhibitors for displaying state-of-the-art technology in the field of medicine and health.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Parkway Health, Singapore and Dow University of Health Sciences for Liver Transplant Program.
Prof. Dr. Masood Hameed, Vice Chancellor, Dow University of Health Sciences; Prof. Dr. Rana Qamar, Director National Institute of Liver & GI Diseases and Sarwar Zuberi Liver Centre; Dr. Khursheed Nizam, President, Ecommerce Gateway; Dr. Zakiuddin Ahmed, COO, Smart Health Care; Dr. Jeyaraj Prema Raj, Consultant Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic and General Surgeon, Singapore; Dr. SEE Hui Ti, Consultant Medical Oncologist and Physician, Parkway Cancer Centre, Gleneagles Hospital; Mr. Meno Liew, Parkway Group Healthcare Pte Ltd, Singapore; Mr. Steven Mok, Parkway Group Healthcare Pte Ltd, Singapore were also present on the occasion.
Prof. Masood Hameed Khan, Vice Chancellor after the signing ceremony said that there will be four phases of this program. First phase will be of screening in which patients will be screened. The second phase will be of training the doctors in which the doctors will be given proper knowledge and training about liver transplant. The third phase will be of facility provision. The fourth phase will be of execution. All the phases including training will be completed in two years timeframe.
A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of B. Braun Pakistan pavilion was held at Karachi Expo Centre by Dr. Zaffar Hashmi, Country Manager, B. Braun Pakistan. accompanied by Professor Dr. Masood Hameed Khan, Vice Chancellor of Dow University of Health Sciences Karachi.
Many prominent personalities like Dr. Asim Hussan, Advisor to Prime Minister, President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Abdul Majid Haji Muhammad, Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh, Mr. Imtiaz A. Shaikh; Fatima Surayya Bajiya and others graced the occasion.
The morning session had four different Scientific Seminars which included “General Surgery/Burns & Plastic Surgery”; “Liver & Gastro Intestinal diseases”; “Dental Care, Diabetes & Endocrinology.”
On the third day of the exhibition, activities included Dental Checkup, Blood Pressure Monitoring, Body Mass Index Calculation (Height & Weight), Eye Testing & Screening, Psychological Tests such as IQ & Personality Assessment, Well Women Clinic, Oral Hygiene Contest and Smile Competition.
The morning session on the last day of Event had five different Scientific Seminars which included Gynecology & Obstetrics; Nursing; Paeds & Paediatrics Surgery and Neurology / Neurosurgery / IPM & R; Pulmonology. In the seminars new aspects of management were also discussed followed by well-discussed question-answer session. Two Public Awareness seminars on “Preventing Heart Diseases & Stroke” and “Pulmonary & Infectious Diseases” were also held.