LAHORE– The first annual congress of the Pakistan Association of Dental Students (PADS) kicked off here at the University of Health Sciences(UHS) on Friday with the participation of students and dentists from dental institutions across the country. UHS Vice-Chancellor Prof. Javed Akram inaugurated the moot.
On the first day, dental students reiterated their commitment to promoting the professional and ethical values of dentistry. The three-day annual congress will include clinical workshops, dental Olympics, clinical exchange fair, dental start-up competition and cultural programs.
In his address to the organizers, Prof. Javed Akram said that the university would continue to encourage healthy educational activities in its students.
“To be a good doctor or dentist, you have to be a good person first, for which you need a role model,” he said.
Professor Javed Akram further said that our teeth tell us a lot about our health. “That is why I consider dentistry as a part of medical speciality”, he said and added the best students chose the profession of dentistry as their own choice.
UHS VC said that dental health is the most neglected in Pakistan. He told the country had the highest prevalence rate of oral cancer in the world. He said that according to research, 50 per cent of dental care in Punjab was being provided by unqualified quakes.
Professor Javed Akram said that he had high expectations from young students. He advised young dentists to learn the difference between the necessary and unnecessary use of antibiotics.
PADS President Dr Aneeqa Aslam thanked UHS VC for encouraging the students. She said that Congress has been kept mostly online due to the fear of Coved-19. She said that through this congress, her association wanted to provide an international platform to their dental students.
Dr Aneeqa added that more than 700 dental students and dentists across the country were members of the organization. She told that local and foreign experts were participating in the moot. Dental experts from Malaysia, Germany, England, Canada, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan would give lectures on various topics, she maintained.
A large number of dental students including Dr Saeed Anwar, Shumaila Balti, Dr Arsal Sadiq, Dr Minal Musa, Dr Mehroz Ahmed, Dr Tayyaba Rasool, Dr Aqsa Jabbar, Dr Anila Saleem and Dr Muhammad Nasir attended the National Cabinet meeting of the Congress held on the first day. The moot will continue till Sunday.— PRESS RELEASE
