November 29, 2008	Saturday	Ziqa'ad 30, 1429

KARACHI, Nov 28: Speakers at a seminar on Friday said that medical practitioners could help significantly in detecting and checking cases of violence against women.

The seminar on “Elimination of violence against women” was organised by the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) to create awareness of the issue.

Quoting some figures disseminated during a National Assembly session, Prof Nusrat H. Khan, Head of the gynae department, Unit III, Civil Hospital Karachi, said that over 3,000 women were killed in acts of violence in the country from 2005 to 2007.

She said the main barriers in curbing the trend included a lack of technical competence and resources, cultural stereotypes and negative social attitudes, institutional constraints and, most importantly, women’s reluctance to make their ordeals public. She pointed out that over the three years alone, 51 cases of acid-throwing on women had been reported.

Dr Momina Khan of the same unit said that the preventive spectrum of violence against women could be broadened by promoting community education, strengthening individual knowledge and skills and changing organisational practices and influencing policies in legislation. She suggested educating men on the issue.

Dr Rehma said that Pakistan was one of the six countries with the highest rate of violence against women.

CHK Medical Superintendent Prof Saeed Qureshi, Prof Ghufrana Umar Memon and Dr M. Saleem Ilyas also spoke.