KARACHI, Jan 12: The third annual symposium of the National Institute of Child Health got underway on Friday with an urge to improve child healthcare delivery services in the country and make it more responsive to the challenges of increasing childhood illnesses and neonatal deaths.

Inspector General Hospitals Abdul Majeed Rajput was the chief guest at the inaugural session of the symposium being held for three days on the theme of “Neonatal and child health: world scenario”. A number of foreign experts will deliberate on current issues related to child health.

Speakers on the first day highlighted the problems of paediatric population and their existing problems in Pakistan. Estimates show that neonate deaths constituted 50 per cent of infant mortalities every year in the country.

In her welcome address, NICH Director Prof Afroze Ramzan Sherali stressed the need for giving a reasonable quality of life to children. She apprised the audience about ongoing and upcoming projects at the NICH and acknowledged the generosity shown both by public and private sectors.She said the NICH had planned to have additional departments with a financial support to the tune of Rs150 million from the federal government, for establishment of pathology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, neuropsychiatry and other facilities. In this regard, she said, some piece of land had been identified adjacent to the NICH. She sought help from the federal health ministry in procuring the land from Sindh government and the Army Welfare Trust.

She said the NICH with 450-bed capacity was striving hard to meet the challenges of health care, training and research in the filed of paediatrics. A cytogenetic laboratory is almost ready to be commissioned next month, she added.

Dr Majeed Rajput appreciated the NICH responsibilities in providing comprehensive medical care to children, teaching and training of staff concerned and extending postgraduate education facilities as well. He also assured of his support for procuring the land for expansion.

He said the problems of high infant and under five mortality, malnutrition, low birth weight, fever of unknown origin were common in the country and as such awareness about relevant preventive measures was needed. He suggested for undertaking research in public health issues of children.

Dr Chiu Man Chun (Hong Kong), Yap Hue Kim (Singapore), Dr Farhat M Mirza, Dr Sofia Ahmed, also addressed the session.

After attending the inaugural session, the IG Hospitals along with other dignitaries and senior doctors inaugurated an art gallery at the NICH exhibiting artworks of a special student, Mariam Khan, 16, the only daughter of Dr Jamal Ara and Dr Asadullah Khan of JPMC.

The child, a victim of Down Syndrome (a genetic disorder), had started paintings at the age of six and has over 100 paintings to her credit. The gallery has been named as “Third Eye Vision”.

As Dr Jamal Ara says her dreams do end here rather it is just the beginning. It is Mariam’s way of telling the world, “I am a beautiful and brainy baby. I am not handicapped”, she adds.

“Mariam wants to reach as many people as she can through art,” Dr Jamal Ara said and hoped that the gallery at NICH would become a favourite place for other special children as well.

Prof Afroze said a portion of the revenue generated through the paintings would be added to the fund for sick children at the NICH as well. “I pray Mariam may bring a lot of happiness to her parents and sick children,” she added.

Dr Raput said the gallery was something very special and needed to be upheld. “It would make the people understand that Mariam and others like her were unique in style. Awareness should be created that they need more care and dignity,” he said.

Fatima Surriya Bajia, the adviser to chief minister, also spoke on the occasion. The ceremony concluded with emotional notes signed by participants on a specially designed board.