Haematologic Disorders in Gynaecology and Obstetrics by Tahir Shamsi - Nazli Hossain launched

February 9, 2010
By Irfan Aligi

KARACHI: Health professionals stressed the need for a stronger and effective working relationship between professionals and haemotologists to curb maternal deaths due to blood disorders, and prevent hereditary blood diseases such as thalassemia, which is the largest genetically, transmitted blood disorder in Pakistan.

They were addressing more than a hundred doctors, mostly specializing in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, at the launch of 'Haematologic Disorders in Gynaecology and Obstetrics' here on Tuesday.

The launch was addressed by Professor Masood Hameed Khan, Vice Chancellor, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Karachi, Major General (retd) Masood Anwer, Dean, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Professor Nusrat H Khan, Head of Gynaecology & Obstetrics Unit I, Civil Hospital and DUHS, Karachi and eminent haematologist, Dr Khalid Zafar Hashmi. Gynaecologist.

The speakers agreed that the book is a comprehensive desktop resource for both practicing doctors and medical students.

Blood disorders in women of reproductive age are diverse and complicated—ranging from iron deficiency anaemia, menorrhagia and pregnancy complications such as postpartum hemorrhage—and pose a significant public health problem, especially in Pakistan. Beta-thalassemia has a carrier rate of 5-8 percent and around 5,000 children are diagnosed each year in the country.

MU Health Comm – Pakistan’s first health communication and publishing bureau – and National Institute of Blood Diseases & Bone Marrow Transplantation (NIBD), Karachi, has published the research publication, edited by Dr Tahir S Shamsi and Dr Nazli Hossain.

It provides updated information and case studies for clinicians, especially obstetricians and gynecologists when confronted with hematological disorders, some of which can be very challenging from both diagnostic and management point of view. In addition, related issues like transfusion practices and thalassemia prevention programme have also been included.