GUWAHATI, Aug 10 - The University Invited Lecture Series (online) began under the aegis of the Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences (SSUHS), Assam on August 8. It was inaugurated by the Director of Health Services Dr Rathindra Bhuyan.
In his speech Dr Bhuyan emphasised 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 a pioneer in the field of fetal medicine, Prof Deka discussed 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 emphasised that haemoglobinopathies like thalassemia and HbE disease prevalent in Assam could be diagnosed by prenatal diagnostic methods for proper care of this vulnerable population.
Over 650 delegates from different parts of Assam and India belonging to various specialities attended the lecture and participated in the discussion.
The function was anchored by Dr Sujit Bordhan, Registrar (i/c) of the varsity. The vote of thanks was offered by Dr Gokul Chandra Das, said a press release.