PESHAWAR: Speakers at an event here on Monday asked the young doctors to learn how to effectively communicate with patients through prevailing cultural ways and means to boost confidence of ailing persons.

The event titled annual Pashto day was organised by Literary Society of Khyber Medical College at main auditorium of the college. Students, teachers and KMC alumni attended the event in a large number.

Dr Saqib Nawaz Khan, chief organiser of the event, also launched KMC’s literary magazine ‘Cenna’ on the occasion. He said that the KMC administration had pledged to allocate sufficient funds for organising literary activities at the college. He said that literary activities would be extended over a week including Urdu and English days.

Around 30 awards and commendation certificates were given to talented students and faculty members on their outstanding performances.

The speakers said that socializing with patients provided a novel way of personal experiences and deep understanding to doctors beyond physical appearances. They said that having aesthetic sense and tinge of humour at times helped patients to get cured better than the mere medicines.

Pashto day celebrated at Khyber Medical College

Pashto poetry, music, documentary film, plays based on girls’ education and doctor’s duties were part of the daylong event. Student Asfandyar Momand stole the show by playing beautiful tunes on rabab. He received rounds of applause from the audience.

A group of students presented hilarious parodies of KMC teachers and entertained the participants.

A Pashto skit written by Dr Javed Miandad revolved round a typical Pakhtun village in which illiterate believed in taking revenge upon enemy finally resorted to permanent peace settlement when they came to know about a female doctor, who rushed to save life of her father’s killer in the hospital.

Pashto poet Bakhtzada recited some inspiring poems with message to promote girls’ education, do away the gun culture and take ownership of land, people and cultural identity. Guest poet Nazia Durrani and chief of LSKMC Hamid Naeem also shared their views with the audience.

Inaugurating the event, Dr Noorul Emaan, the principal of KMC, called upon students to know about the cultural sensitivities alongside their medical profession. He added that doctors in the practical field could better socialise with patients if there were well versed with the prevailing cultural norms and traditions.

Senior poet Prof Abaseen Yousafzai while delivering a lecture on Pakhtun culture pointed out that culture being a dynamic phenomenon instilled a spirit of humanism, tolerance and a broad view of diversity. “Respect for genuine cultural values gives us a spiritual healing and helps us get refreshed after involvement too much in mundane world affairs,” he added.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2020