Shalamar Hospital conducted an awareness talk and diabetes screening camp at UET
As part of its community awareness work, Shalamar Hospital conducted an awareness talk and diabetes screening camp at the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore (UET) on World Diabetes Day. Clinicians educated the participants on diabetes risk factors, health complications, and preventive tactics. High-risk patients were screened with advanced diagnostic tests.
The SIHS signed an MOU with the Greenstar Social Marketing Pakistan Ltd
The SIHS signed an MOU with the Greenstar Social Marketing Pakistan Ltd to be a part of an innovative youth awareness “Khud Ko Pehchaano” programme. The programme is being delivered across Punjab in collaboration with (and funded by) the Punjab Population Innovation Fund and Population Welfare Department, Punjab. It is a youth-oriented programme with a focus on premarital counselling, family planning, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and gender-based violence. The training modules have been developed in consultation with Pakistan Medical Association and Population Welfare Department
Shalamar Hospital hosted the US Consul-General Lahore
In light of breast cancer awareness month, Shalamar Hospital hosted the US Consul-General Lahore, Mr. William Makaneole, Ms. Kathleen Gibilisco of the US State Department, and the team. The visit focused on showcasing Shalamar’s women’s health initiatives and dedication to women’s health services across all clinical departments. The US Consul-General Lahore, the chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Shahid Hussain, and the COO of the hospital, Dr. Ayesha Nauman, spoke at the event. During his address, the US Consul-General expressed his astonishment to hear that 100 women in Pakistan die of breast cancer daily and voiced the need for more awareness. The Consul-General and team were pleased to learn about the ongoing project of Shalamar Hospital with Johns Hopkins Medicine International to create one of Pakistan’s first women’s centric health services. Shalamar Hospital and the US Consulate Lahore expressed a shared enthusiasm for future projects on the health and well-being of the Pakistani people. The addresses were followed by a tour of the hospital’s key health initiatives, given by hospital COO Dr. Ayesha Nauman. Dr. Sadaf Ishaque, head of One Stop Breast Clinic, briefed the team about the community services of the clinic. Currently, Shalamar Hospital is offering free mammograms for the month of October.
Flood Relief Work
Flood Relief Camp in Dadu With the support of its Donors, Pakistan Navy and Service Sales Corporation, Shalamar Hospital organized medical camps at different villages of District Dadu, Sindh. The medical camps provided free medical treatment to 2386 patients of all age groups. Hospital teams worked tirelessly to provide relief to the flood affectees. Pakistan Navy provided security and logistical support to ensure the safety and peace of the healthcare workers. Flood Relief Camp in District Rajanpur Shalamar Hospital conducted 3 Day Medical camps in Lal Gagh village, Noshrawast village and Drishak village of District Rajanpur. The Administration and Medical team of Shalamar Hospital Lahore worked tirelessly in collaboration with Services Sales Cooperation (SSC) to treat 1180 patients in the medical camps. The majority of the patients came with the complaints AGE, AFI, HTN, DM, resistant Scabies, Generalized weakness and malnourishment.
Breast Cancer: Symptoms and Self-examination
Every one in nine (1 in 9) women receives a breast cancer diagnosis during her lifetime; Pakistan has the highest disease incidence among all Asian countries. Therefore, it has become crucial to spread awareness among the general public to ensure early detection and save the precious lives of both men and women. Signs and Symptoms: Knowing any disease’s various signs and symptoms is essential because it marks the beginning of its detection process. However, it is crucial to understand that the symptoms of breast cancer can vary depending on its stage and type. Following are some of its common signs: Early breast cancer: A change in size and shape of the breast. Change in the appearance of the nipple. Nipple discharge (other than breast milk) Lumps or nodes that can be felt in or on the breast. Invasive breast cancer: Breast lump. Peeling of the nipple skin. Itchy breast. The breast is tender, warm, and/or hard to touch. Pitting the breast skin (like an orange: Peau d’orange appearance). Nipple retraction and discharge. ( later stage) Lump or swelling in the underarm lymph nodes. Inflammatory breast cancer: Heaviness and aching in the breast. Pitting of breast skin. Inverted nipple. The breast is red, itchy, and tender to the touch. Lump or swelling in the underarm lymph nodes. Metastatic breast cancer: If the lungs are affected: difficulty breathing, coughing, and chest pain. If the brain or spinal cord is affected: headache, seizures, pain, or blurry vision. If bones are affected: reduced alertness, pain, and fractures. If the liver is affected: nausea, fatigue, swelling, and jaundice. Male breast cancer: Symptoms experienced by men are similar to women, including: Painless lumps in the breast. Nipple discharge. Increase in size of the breast. Thickening of breast skin. Breast Self-examination: According to the John Hopkins Medical Centre, 40% of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, which emphasizes the significance of breast self-exams. Men and women should conduct the exam regularly because the condition, although uncommon in men, is just as fatal. How regularly should it be performed? It must be performed monthly, and the ideal time is between the 3rd and 5th day of your menstrual cycle or on the same day of every month for men (especially with a family history of breast cancer), post-menopausal women, or females with irregular menstrual cycles. Steps of the exam: Visual inspection: You must stand in front of a mirror with your breasts completely exposed and your hands by your sides. Look for any changes in breast shape, size, and color, as well as symmetry, skin dimpling and nipple retraction. Then raise your hands above your head and observe again. Finally, place your hands on your hips to flex your chest muscles and look for any changes. Make sure to observe and compare both breasts. Manual inspection while standing: For this procedure, you must use your right hand to examine your left breast and vice versa. You must use the pads of the 3 middle fingers of one hand to feel all parts of the breast in a circular motion. Also, apply different pressures and feel for any lumps or thickness. Then squeeze your nipple to check for discharge. Repeat this for the other breast. Manual inspection while lying down: For this step, first put a pillow under your right shoulder and flex your right arm. Then use the pads of the 3 middle fingers of your left hand to palpate your right breast and armpit. Repeat this procedure for the left breast and armpit. When to consult a doctor? If you find any of the aforementioned signs (lump, bloody nipple discharge, color change, or change in skin texture), make sure to visit your doctor so the underlying cause of the anomalies can be determined.
Medical Observer ship Visit Johns Hopkins
Shahid Husain Foundation, Shalamar Hospital, and Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHMI) are working to build Pakistan’s first Women’s Health Center. Two doctors – Dr. Sadaf Ishaq, Asst. Professor of Surgery / Oncology and Dr. Eisha Tahir, Assistant Professor of Radiology – from Shalamar Hospital, visited the JHMI, USA, in the first week of June 2022 for Medical Observership training to learn about best practices. Recently they returned after their first observership visit and delivered presentations on their learning experience and their plan to improve their respective departments for the development of the Women Health Center. Here’s what Dr. Sadaf and Dr. Eisha learned from their Medical Observership visit to Johns Hopkins Medical International (JHMI), USA. “My visit to JHMI was centered in the breast imaging unit at the Johns Hopkins main, Green Spring Station, and White Marsh Center. I shadowed Dr. Emily Ambinder, Dr. Phil Di Carlo, and Dr. Babita Panigrahi. The focus of this visit was learning about the latest imaging modalities and interventional procedures related to breast cancer screening & diagnosis. During observership, I primarily concentrated on screening & diagnostic mammography reporting, breast MRI reporting, stereotactic biopsy, clipping and wire localization, and MR-guided biopsy and clipping. JHMI is equipped with the latest imaging modalities and follows the ACR guidelines in their diagnostic workup and follow-up. “My clinical observership was in the breast centers of Johns Hopkins Hospitals at Bayview, Green Spring Station, and Skip Viragh cancer outpatient center. Dr. Mehran Habibi is the director Breast center at Johns Hopkins, and he was my breast surgery mentor there. I learned and trained on developing breast centers and hands-on practice on the latest breast cancer surgery tools available at Johns Hopkins like Margin Probe, Endomag, axillary surgery updates, and Oncoplastic procedures. Johns Hopkins’s latest research on breast cancer diagnosis and treatments, including their liquid DNA biopsies for breast cancer recurrences and much more practice-changing trends over there, this clinical observership boosted my confidence as a Breast Surgical Oncologist. This collaboration is a perfect opportunity for the young consultants to learn from the latest evidence-based practices and broaden their professional horizons.” ~ Dr Sadaf Ishaque Here what they have to say about their visit and learning over there. It was a refresher for “best practice.” Including value-added services in Shalamar Hospital and frequent communication with the JHMI consultants and administration will pave the way for patient benefit in the future. I would add that since my expectations and learning objectives were evident before my visit, hence it maximized my experience there. I recommend the same for the consultants visiting in the next phase.” ~Dr Eisha Tahir
Dr Maryam Riaz Tarar Representing Pakistan at the 36th Meeting of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Commission for Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication.
Shalamar Institute of Health Sciences (SIHS) is proud to announce that Dr. Maryam R Tarar, Professor of Pathology, Convener Infection Prevention & Control Committee (IPCC), and frontline team leader in fighting COVID-19, was nominated by the government and World Health Organization (WHO) to represent Pakistan at the 36th meeting of the “Eastern-Mediterranean Regional Commission for Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication (EM/RCC).” The EM/RCC meets annually to discuss the data on polio eradication from 22 member states. The report to discuss this data is presented by National Certification Committee (NCC) Chair or a nominated member from each country. For this meeting held at Dusit Thani Hotel, Dubai, from 31st May to 2nd June, Prof. Tarar was nominated to present the Annual Progress Report for the year 2021 as a member of NCC Pakistan. The other team members comprised Pakistan WHO Team Lead Dr. Zainul Abedin Khan and National Poliovirus Surveillance Coordinator Dr. Shafique-ur-Rehman. The presentation covered five key subtopics: polio eradication strategies; the number of isolates of wild poliovirus (WPV) and vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV2) isolates; environmental surveillance network; surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases and poliovirus containment. The session on day 2 of the meeting provided to Pakistan and Afghanistan was one of the most extended and in-depth due to the endemic nature of poliomyelitis in the country. Prof Tarar received praise from WHO/EMRO Focal points/coordinator, Ms. Rasha Naguib, and other country representatives for her poise and speaking style as the “Face of Pakistan.” Prof. Maryam Tarar also attended the Training of the EM National Users (MoH Focal Persons/NCC) for Poliomyelitis Eradication – Electronic Annual Certification Reports System (e-ACR). This was mandated for chairs of NCC. This three-day course focused on providing the participants with all information necessary to report their findings from next year onwards digitally. As a representative of Pakistan, Professor Tarar will now act as a trainer for others in Pakistan on using eACR.
World Diabetes Day 2021
World Diabetes day is celebrated every year on 14th November for the awareness and prevention from diabetes. For this reason, SIDER (Sakina Institute of Diabetes and Endocrine Resarch) department of Shalamar Hospital in collaboration with Business Planning and Development department organized an awareness walk, seminar and free medical camp for the patients in which the patients were educated about preventive measures for diabetes. Patients were offered the facility of blood sugar test along with free medicines. The Chief Executive (CE) of Shalamar Institute of Health Sciences, Brig (Retd.) Anis Ahmed, Principal Shalamar Medical and Dental College (SMDC), Mr. Zahid Bashir, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Shalamar Hospital, Dr. Ayesha Nauman, In charge SIDER, Dr. Maria Javed attended the event along with various doctors, nurses and students of SMDC. Dr. Maria Javed addressing the seminar stressed upon the importance of an awareness campaign about prevention from diabetes which cannot be possible without government`s support. She further added that the prices of the medicines should be controlled so that the patients can easily consume them. Dr. Rozina Arshad told the audience about the SIDER department`s way of working. On this occasion, SIDER`s nutritionist Ms. Asma Shahid said that one of the major reasons of diabetes is unhealthy lifestyle. The Chief Guest of the seminar, Deputy Head of Mission from the German Ambassy, Dr. Philip Deichmann and Chairman Board of Trustees, Mr. Shahid Hussain also addressed the audience. The General Manager Marketing, Mr. Usman Suleman and In charge SIDER, Dr. Maria Javed thanked the pharmaceutical companies, staff members and other guests for their presence at the seminar and camp.
Free Telemedicine Service
Lahore, April 06, 2020: Shalamar Hospital has launched a free online telemedicine service to offer medical advice to patients during the current lock down caused by COVID-19. Senior consultants of Shalamar Hospital will give free professional advice to patients through Skype. This service has been launched to help people receive medical advice at their homes, as due to the current lock down situation they are facing difficulties in going out of their homes. Shalamar Hospital is contributing to the society through this free of cost initiative whereby anyone can visit the dedicated page of telemedicine on the website of Shalamar Hospital for medical advice. Senior consultants of Shalamar Hospital from the department of Medicine, Gynaecology, Cardiology, Surgery and Paediatrics will offer instant medical advice to patients. The service is available everyday except Sunday from 9 am – 2 pm. According to Col. (R) Dr. Tanveer Rana, Chief Operating Officer, Shalamar Hospital, “In this moment of crisis, we stand with the people of Pakistan and we want them to know that Shalamar Hospital is striving to offer them experienced medical advice without the need to stepping out of their homes.” Dr. Tanveer Rana further said, “Using Skype, people can connect with our experienced team of doctors and seek medical advice for free. This will also reduce financial burden on our people.” For free online telemedicine service, patients can visit the website of Shalamar Hospital: https://shalamarhospital.org.pk/telemedicine/
Shalamar Diabetes Day at LUMS
Shalamar Diabetes Day at LUMS Sakina Begum Institute of Diabetes and Endocrine Research (SiDER)of Shalamar Hospital in collaboration with LUMS Department of Biology arranged free Diabetes screening tests on 26th April 2018 for the students and staff of LUMS. The event commenced with seminar on Diabetes presented by Director of SiDER, Prof. Bilal bin Younis, followed by free medical consultations from Consultant Diabetologist Dr. Rozina Arshad, Diabetologist Dr. Saira Youaf and Nutritionist Ms. Faiza Kamal. The attended were also offered free blood sugar tests, blood pressure tests and BMI tests inside the Changing Diabetes ® mobile health unit. The endeavor earned an enthusiastic response as 135 members of the LUM community including students, support staff and faculty members made their way to the unit to receive free consultation. The unconditional support of Novo Nordisk proved indispensable in making this trial a success.