Conference highlights health problems related to cardiovascular disease

LAHORE: The Allama Iqbal Medical College (AIMC) recently hosted the annual conference, AIMCON between medical professionals currently working in Pakistan as well as those abroad.

The conference allows for networking between doctors in order to share breakthroughs and ideas in the field of medicine.

The organisations present this year were AIMC alumni, Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent in North America (APPNA) and Association of Pakistani Cardiologists of North America (APCNA). According to Dr. Azim Jahangir of AIMC the purpose of AIMCON is to provide a platform for doctors of Pakistani descent to return to their homeland and pass on their knowledge and experience to local doctors and medical students.

This year’s topic of discussion was cardiovascular diseases and related health problems. Doctors affiliated with various organisations based in the US and the UK shared their research and discussed how they handled their most difficult cases. Doctors took rounds at Jinnah Hospital to visit patients before holding sessions on clinical cases the next day

Nadeem Hayat Malik, President of Pakistan Cardiac Society spoke on diabetes and ischemic heart disease. Malik stated that more needs to be done at a national level for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases while at the same time, extensive anti-smoking campaigns need to be introduced in order to prevent future generations from developing heart problems.

Malik went on to explain how any person with diabetes has the potential to develop cardiovascular complications and unfortunately, there is a common misconception that diabetes is a disease of wealthier and more developed countries. Currently, it is growing at a fast pace not only in the US but across Asia as well.

In the last twenty years, there has been a 150 per cent increase in cases related to diabetes worldwide, now totaling a record number of 400 million affected people. The cost of health care has risen to billions and although the disease is easily managed, the mortality rate is higher in low income countries like Pakistan. It is also the leading cause of blindness and non-traumatic amputations.

Dr. Bashir Hanif reminded his fellow colleagues and medical students to always remember the Hippocratic Oath AIMC auditorium wall: “I will practice my profession with conscience, dignity, and fear of God.’ He urged them to never hesitate before asking for help and to always remember how a family member would like to be treated when caring for their patients.

Dr. Ateeq Mirza, organising Chairman of APCNA was pleased with the success of the event and especially the echocardiograph workshop. He was also pleased that breakthroughs and new guidelines had been discussed without unnecessary interruptions. He called AIMCON a well-organised and wonderful experience and also urged medical students and doctors to visit the APPNA website, where help is offered to medical professionals who wish to travel abroad for work and education but have visa issues.

Notable attendants included Secretary Health Dr Asad Ashraf, CEO of Jinnah Hospital and Principal of Allama Iqbal Medical College Professor Dr Javed Akram, President APCNA America Dr Javed Suleman and General Secretary Dr Ateeq Mirza. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif attended who awarded a grant of Rs 5 million to the Allama Iqbal Medical College to set up a digital library.