All gastro diseases now treatable
Friday, July 30, 2010
Talks with Dr Mohammed Azam about increasing liver diseases in the country
Pakistan produces hundreds of doctors every year. A number of them get better career opportunities and leave the country for practising abroad. But there are few who prefer to live and serve the nation. Associate professor of medicine Dr. Mohammed Azam is one of them who instead of pursuing a better career opportunity in the 1980s refused to stay abroad and preferred to serve the nation.
He obtained national talent scholarship in matriculation and did MBBS from the King Edward Medical College University, Lahore in 1983. He accomplished FCPS in medicine in Gastroenterology.
As an associate professor he has been treating the patients with sheer commitment and dedication. Right now he is practising in one of the largest hospitals of the town, Services Hospital Lahore.
He has talked about various perspectives on life as a gastroenterologist in an interview with Sunday Plus.
Sunday Plus: What motivated you to become a doctor?
Dr. Azam: I was exceedingly determined to be a doctor since I was a little child. I have to struggle a lot in this regard because at that time there was no electricity in my village and I have to study in the candles’ light. In fact my parents were the real motivators. They supported me a lot in this regard and because of them I became a doctor though having limited resources.
Sunday Plus: Why did you decide to become a gastroenterologist and tell us about the gastroenterology diseases?
Dr. Azam: Gastroenterology was a natural for me because I believed that each specialty tends to attract certain personality types. I loved to work with my hands and that is why I decided to get into the gastroenterology’s specialization.
Basically in the 1980s it was too difficult to diagnose the abdominal diseases because there were not such equipments available in the hospitals. But with the arrival of the latest equipments and techniques like endoscopy, it’s not only so easy to diagnose a number of abdominal diseases but also these can be treated through endoscopy camera. Medicines are also available in the market.
Sunday Plus: Which are the major liver diseases and how can people be protected?
Dr. Azam: In Pakistan many people become victim of viral diseases. Hepatitis B and C is dangerous than Hepatitis A, E and D. Unfortunately the vaccine that can safeguard the body from the virus of B and C is not accessible in Pakistan while hepatitis A, E and D are now treatable here. No virus can spread rapidly among the people through infection except Hepatitis B. It is harmful than C in this regard because virus C affects the functioning of liver.
People should avoid the unhygienic and unhealthy food edibles and they should make assurance in using clean drinking water. Spicy food and cold drinks should not be used because these are also the source of spreading the abdominal and liver diseases.
Sunday Plus: In your opinion, what are the most challenging aspects of your career as a gastroenterologist?
Dr. Azam: I think the most challenging aspect is the constant pressure of the patients and it is very disheartening when I fail to treat the serious patients.
Sunday Plus: What would you say to those who are considering being a gastroenterology?
Dr. Azam: It is a great profession, even with all the limitations that doctors have to face today. It is a serious commitment, so you have to make sure that you are in this profession for the right reasons.
Sunday Plus: Do you think that the field of gastroenterology is going to change in future?
Dr. Azam: Yes! I think enormous latest techniques would be invented and government should take steps to empower the health sector in this regard. The need of the hour is to facilitate the people through installing latest machinery or medical equipments only then we would be able to prevent the liver diseases. Endoscopic surgical procedures may also replace many of the most common general surgery procedures performed today. Gastroenterologists should also be more flexible to learn the new techniques to overcome the abdominal and liver diseases.
Labels: Dr. Mohammed Azam, Gastroenterology, Interviews, Medicine
posted by Dilshad Rao @ 3:47 PM,
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