KARACHI, Jan 28: Specialists in child health from Saarc countries have stressed the need for promotion of paediatric surgery in the region and raising its standards as well.

Speaking at a meeting of the Federation of Association of Paediatric Surgeons Saarc Countries (FAPSS), which was held as a part of the first symposium of the National Institute of Child Health (NICH), Karachi, on Friday, the representatives of the body from different countries highlighted the contemporary developments, trends and research in the field of paediatric surgery and suggested measures to overcome the problems.

They stressed the need of an optimum use of resources available with the Saarc countries and making efforts to pool in the expertise and facilities for the common benefit of children from the members countries.

They noted that the media had got special role to play in increasing awareness about better health ways for children of the region. There was a need to promote positive and progressive contents, like medical and scientific research, in the print and electronic media, said one of the members.

The FAPSS was set up about two months back, after a meeting in India, and those who spoke at the first mid-term meeting of the body at Karachi included its Secretary Prof Mehmood Shaukat, and Dr Iftikhar Ahmad Jan from Pakistan, Dr D K Gupta, President, from India, Dr Tehmina Banu from Bangladesh and Ranjan Dias from Sri Lanka.

The body framed a set of suggestions, which would be forwarded to all national paediatric bodies, health departments and the governments of the Saarc countries, Dr Gupta told journalists.

The body resolved that the FAPSS would be a forum for the dissemination of information between the member organizations with regard to paediatric surgery. The meeting decided for taking measures for recognition of postgraduate degrees in paediatric surgery offered by an eligible organization in each member country.

It also called for generating funds for offering scholarships. It called for establishment of a full-fledged paediatric surgical department at every medical university in the region.

Leading institutions of paediatric surgical services in the member countries would be encouraged to offer manpower exchange programmes, specially for postgraduate trainees, included the proposals drawn at the meeting.

It was also said that the FAPSS would help establish paediatric surgical service in the countries where it was not available. A general discussion on paediatric surgery was also held, which was attended by Director General Health, Abdul Majeed Rajput, patron and director of the NICH, Prof Afroze Ramzan Sherali and Dr Farhat Mirza.

Responding to questions, Dr Gupta said that the salary package offered to paediatric surgeons by the Indian government varied from institution to institution, but the main motivator was the conscience of individuals.

He said that undergraduate medical students should also be taught some selective topics related to paediatrics. All medical colleges should have the facility for children to be treated surgically.

Dr Shaukat Memhood was of the view that it suited to doctors ethically as well as financially to go into the rural areas as well. He said that the countries should develop their on paediatric policies in view of their resources and circumstances, as adopting any western model in this regard would not be feasible in many cases.

He said that in addition to paediatric surgeons, efforts should also be made to trained nurses and paramedical staff at hospitals and healthcare units, while neo-natal transport system should also be ensured in the countries of the region.

He noted that while there was a dearth of doctors for children, the shortage of paediatric surgeons in rural areas could be met through a functional referral system for rural patients.

Among pre-symposium activities, workshops were held at different halls of the NICH in the morning. At one of the workshops, it was said that short stature was an important aspect of Paediatric Endocrinology, but there was paucity of local data on the subject.

The chairman of the organizing committee of the symposium said that a number of retired teachers, contemporary consultants and trainees, both from the NICH and other hospitals of the country, were participating in the symposium, which would be concluded on Jan 30.