STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The University Invited Lecture Series (Online) was started under the aegis of Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences (SSUHS), Assam on August 8.
The lecture series was inaugurated by the Director of Health Services, Assam Dr. Rathindra Bhuyan. He emphasized the importance of setting up facilities for prenatal diagnosis to improve the IMR and also quality of infants' health. Dr. Satyajit Bora, president, IMA , Assam and Dr. Jayanta Chaudhury, president, Teachers' Association, Medical Colleges of Assam were the guests of honour at the function.
The first lecture of the series titled "Introduction to Genetics & Fetal Medicine- Prenatal Diagnosis" was delivered by the Vice Chancellor of SSUHS Prof. Dipika Deka. Being the pioneer in the field of 'Fetal Medicine', Prof. Deka discussed the various methods of diagnosing, birth defects like Down's Syndrome, Thalassemia, Congenital Malformations, etc, before birth considering the foetus as a patient (inside the womb), rather than the mother as a patient.
Prof. Deka also emphasized that hemoglobinopathies like Thalassemia and HbE diseases prevalent in Assam can be diagnosed by prenatal diagnostic methods for proper care of this vulnerable population. More than 650 delegates from different parts of Assam and India, belonging to various specialities attended the lecture and actively participated in the discussion. The function was anchored by Dr. Sujit Bordhan, Registrar (i/c), SSUHS. Vote of thanks was offered by Dr. Gokul Chandra Das, OST, CHET, SSUHS.
Also Watch: CHECK OUT: Likham: The Book Made of Gold