LARKANA: Around 350 medical graduates of the Chandka Medical College (39th batch), Ghulam Muhammed Mahar Medical College (8th batch) and Benazir Institute of Nursing and Community Health Sciences (first batch) received their degrees at the first convocation of the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU) on Saturday.

Prof Dr Sikandar Shaikh, the first vice chancellor of the university, was the chief guest at the convocation.

Speaking to the audience, the vice chancellor congratulating the fresh graduates told them to work hard for achieving excellence in higher and specialised fields in the medical science and conduct research. He said the aim should be to serve the ailing humanity.

Tracing the initial days of the university, he it was established on a 220-acre piece of land in Arija and then a host of buildings were raised which reflected the interests and efforts on the part of the varsity’s faculty. He appreciated the team for putting in all out efforts to see the campus grow fast.

He recalled the days when in 1984 he had joined the CMC as an assistant professor and used to come to college riding a motorcycle.

Present vice chancellor Prof Dr Ghulam Asghar Channa, speaking at the convocation, said both the university and CMC were the institutions gifted to the people of Sindh by Pakistan Peoples Party founder chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his successor Benazir Bhutto.

“We have succeeded in acquiring new buildings for the university which have been constructed at the site and this reflects our commitment with the medical education,” He observed that the SMBBMU was placed at No.10 by the Higher Education Commission in the ranking of the country’s universities. Some fellows of the university were sent abroad for doing their PhDs in different subjects, he added. Appreciating new graduates, he called upon them to concentrate on serving ailing humanity and continue studies for specialisation. They should discharge their duties to prove themselves beneficial to the society, he said.

Out of 19 fresh graduates, six were awarded gold medals and 13 silver medals. Neeraj Prakash of the GMMMC, Sukkur and Shilpa Motanpota of the CMC, Larkana, were adjudged the best graduates and were among the six students who won gold medals. Marvi Gurbakhshani of the CMC and Sikandar Ali of the nursing institute were also clinched the gold medals.

Unzila Shaikh, Poonam Bai, Murk Rani Shaikh, Hamir Morio, Zoya Shaikh, Kanwal Gul Hakiro, Faiza Sodhar, Mahwish Kalwar, Uzma Ali, Magdaleen and Hussain Bakhsh received silver medals.

The absence of the Sindh health minister, HEC chairman, College of Physicians and Surgeons president and other prominent figures, who were invited to the convocation, was markedly felt.

Larkana Commissioner Inamullah Dharejo, however, attended the event.

Published in Dawn December 4th, 2016