World Book Day celebrated at FJWU

World Book Day celebrated at FJWU
Rawalpindi: A programme regarding 'World Book Day' was arranged by Susan B. Anthony Reading Room, Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) in collaboration with Department of Education, FJWU, here on Thursday.

The theme of the event was 'Books are lighthouses, erected in the great sea of time'. The main purpose of this day is to develop students with wider outlook and a balanced view towards science and humanities. It is our intent desire and effort to inculcate reading habits in our students. It also helped in achieving the ultimate goals of developing knowledgeable and compassionate citizens for the society.

In his welcoming address, Zafar Javaid Naqvi, Senior Librarian FJWU, said regarding the importance of books and education that education is the light of knowledge and this light is what will take our country forward. Its aim is to encourage everyone, and in particular young people to discover the pleasure of readings and gaining a renewed respect for the irreplaceable contributions of those who have furthered social and cultural progress.

FJWU Vice Chancellor Dr. Samina Amin Qadir was the chief guest of the event. Speaking on the occasion, she said that books can play an important role in our lives and we should connect with reading habits. Learning is a significant process in human being life. It is self-evidence that human development cannot stand without a good learning. Therefore, the books can be faithful friend and the nearest to us which can guide us that how to behave in our practical life.

Zainab Younas read poem on the occasion and read some passages from different books. Dr. Mussarat Anwar Sheikh, Head of the Department Education, also read some passages from books and shared her own reading experiences with the audience.

SCHS adjusts qualification for CPSP fellows
Rawalpindi: The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCHS) has adjusted qualifications for fellows and members of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan and recognised MCPS as specialists.

In a recent visit to KSA, President CPSP Professor Zafarullah Chaudhry and elected councillor/Controller of Examination of Islamabad Centre CPSP Professor Dr Shoaib Shafi held meetings with authorities in SCHS and Saudi ministry of health.

"In the meeting with SCHS authorities, the Saudi commission accepted the MCPS (Pakistan) which is two years registered structured training acquired in CPSP accredited institutions," said Dr Shoaib here on Thursday. Terming the decision a major breakthrough, he said that earlier the SCHS did not recognise MCPS as specialists. In Pakistan, the MCPS qualifies to registrar after having required experience.

Dr Shoaib said that the health practitioners who are qualified with 4-5 years programme (FCPS) from CPSP during the period from 2005 to 2008 are accepted in the SCHS and they will be classified as senior registrar and afterwards with considerable years of recognized experience, they will be classified as consultants. "The CPSP is to provide the SCHS with a list of Pakistani recognised and well reputed hospitals that give trusted certificates of experience."

He said that the CPSP accepted in principle to host SCHS trainees for their specialty training rotation for a period of 6 to 12 months as a part of their training. "Also the CPSP accepted in principle to assist SCHS in test development and to provide the SCHS with questions writers."

He said that in a meeting with deputy minister for planning and development KSA Dr Mohammad Khoshim and Dr Afaf Al Shammary of the ministry of health, the minister requested the CPSP to facilitate Haj season. "The CPSP will provide consultants in infectious diseases who will be given locum jobs to cover vacations of senior consultants for one month period."

Dr Shoaib said that in another meeting, deputy minister of health KSA Dr Aqeel Ghaman Ghamdi and Dr Taha A. Melibary of the ministry requested the CPSP to provide consultants for locum jobs in specialties including vascular, spinal surgery, emergency medicine and obstetrics & gynaecology (females preferred) while for permanent positions in family medicine.

The CPSP office bearers also held meeting with Dr Abdullah Umro of King Fahad Medical City with which the CPSP has already been running a joint training programme and 25 trainees of FCPS are currently employed in King Fahd Medical City for completion of training. "Dr Umro further requested 50 trainees from Pakistan in different specialties. He also requested the CPSP to arrange workshops for communication skills and research methodology as KFMC has state of the art equipments to conduct faculty workshops," said Dr Shoaib.

In another meeting, assistant deputy minister of health for preventative medicine KSA Dr Ziad Ahmed Memish invited Pakistani consultants to be part of mobile teams that will be responsible for any out breaks of clinical diseases in Saudi Arabia. "Consultants will be placed in the command centre in Mina with teams from WHO and University of Washington," said Dr Shoaib adding the minister wanted a role of the CPSP in helping Saudi government in improving quality of infectious diseases programme.

Dr Shaoib hoped that the decisions taken in meetings with health officials in KSA would help Pakistani practitioners in getting foreign experience. "Also Pakistani doctors serving there in KSA would be able to get financial benefits in result of qualification adjustments as their salaries would be readjusted in the light of recent decisions taken by the SCHS," he said adding the SCHS in KSA is authority like PMDC in Pakistan.