Sunday, November 27, 2022
Islamabad (Urdu Point. DW Urdu. November 27, 2022) In recognition of her services in endocrinology for more than 30 years, the Endocrine Society of America has awarded Dr. Tasneem Ahsan with the Alert Award in October 2022. Dr. Tasneem is the first Pakistani to receive this honor. This award is given annually to individuals from around the world who have made outstanding contributions in the fields of hormones, health research, education, clinical practice or management in countries with unfavorable geographical conditions and medical resources. lack of
Who is Dr. Tasneem Ahsan?
Dr. Tasneem Ahsan is considered as one of the founders of endocrinology in Pakistan. After graduating from Dow Medical College in 1978, he received fellowships from three Royal Medical Colleges for advanced studies in endocrinology in the UK.
Dr. Tasneem returned to Pakistan and served as an assistant professor at Dow Medical College for five years.
He then joined the Jinnah Post Graduate Institute and founded Pakistan's first Endocrinology Department in the private sector there. In 2015, Dr. Tasneem Jinnah Post Graduate Institute retired as the Executive Director and was conferred the title of "Professor Emeritus" by the institute. It should be noted that in the field of education, the services of teachers awarded this title are benefited throughout their lives.
After retirement, Professor Tasneem founded the Medicell Institute of Diabetic Endocrinology and Metabolism, which provides research facilities and training in the same field. Dr. Tasneem has so far trained more than 100 internists and endocrinologists, who are serving as consultants and teachers across Pakistan.
Why Dr. Tasneem Quality Award was given?
Each year, the Endocrine Society of America honors endocrinologists from around the world with the Alert Award, who have made extraordinary contributions to the field under challenging circumstances and limited resources. Speaking to Deutsche Welle in this regard, Dr. Tasneem said that two decades ago, he founded the endocrinology OPD at the Jinnah Postgraduate Institute with very limited resources, "Initially just a room to work in." was available and medical facilities were also inadequate.
In the early nineties, there were endocrinology specialists but there was a lack of them in government hospitals. Focusing on performance rather than funding has led to a gradual recognition of the importance of the field and permission to establish a Department of Endocrinology at the Jinnah Postgraduate Institute.
According to Dr. Tasneem, it is not that he did not face financial difficulties in the initial period.
According to him, there was a time when he had to collect donations from friends and family, but the most important thing for him was to maintain the trust of the people, for which he obviously had to give his best day and night. was Almost two decades of hard work paid off in 2010 when the Department of Endocrinology was upgraded to the level of a specialist department after a regular review of its performance.
Why is the field of endocrinology important?
Professor Dr. Tasneem while talking to Deutsche Welle said that the field of endocrinology has become very important nowadays. It treats chronic diseases related to the control of endocrine glands and hormones, for which prevention is the only solution. According to Dr. Tasneem, there are about 50 hormones in the human body, which directly affect the performance of our daily life, "These are our body temperature, mood (tendencies), sleep, metabolism, movement, growth and development. Controls mental health.
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She further points out that once chronic diseases like diabetes occur, the patient has to learn to live with them, for which the most important thing is data about their daily life. That is, both the patient and the physician have complete knowledge of the nature and fluctuations of the disease, or of any other part of the body affected by it, which spans years.
What problems do Pakistani women face in a new field?
Prof. Dr. Tasneem while talking to Deutsche Welle said that women coming forward in a new field in Pakistan have to face numerous problems, "The general thinking here is that some fields are not for women and they have to wait for years. Men have had a monopoly for years.
She says that while joining the medical department, she thought that she had to do something for her country and people. She was the only female endocrinologist from the private sector and the first female member of the Pakistan Endocrine Society when she founded the Endocrinology OPD at Jinnah Postgraduate Institute. According to Dr. Tasneem, it was a huge challenge to make a place in a new and unfamiliar field with very limited resources, with the full support of her husband and family being with her throughout, which always gave her a lot of encouragement.
He also said that gender discrimination and social trends in Pakistan prevent many talented women from coming forward in new fields, but if you are aware of your abilities and have a clear plan for the future, there are no obstacles in the way. Doesn't make sense.
