The Impact of Mıcrofınance on Poverty Allevıatıon and Women Empowerment

The focus is on bringing people out of poverty and empowering women through microfinance and financial inclusion, as these are the issues that are most prevalent and need laser focus. The data is gathered using a questionnaire. It was distributed to four microfinance banks in Bahawalpur which are FINCA, FMFB, NRSP, and Khushhali Bank to get the perspective of women. The results show a significantly positive relationship between microfinance and poverty alleviation and microfinance and women empowerment. This confirms that microfinance is indeed what is required to bring people out of poverty and for improving the empowerment of women. GBV and WE have a significantly negative relationship. When gender-based violence increases women’s, empowerment decreases and vice versa. It was also seen that gender-based violence has no significant impact on poverty alleviation. Financial inclusion as a moderator had a significant impact on the relationship between gender-based violence and women’s empowerment. This means that even if gender-based violence increases if women are financially included then they will still have increased empowerment. Thus, it can be concluded that financial freedom goes a long way in making women feel like they are equal like they have autonomy, and freedom to make choices. &nbsp

Effect of Oral intake of Stevia Leaf Powder on Body Weight – An Experimental study

Introduction: The steviol glycosides are found  in the stevia leaf. These glycosides possess sweetening properties as well as they have antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, and anti-hypertensive effects. This study was conducted to  find out the effect of Stevia leaf on body weight in obese Sprague Dawley male rats. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was carried out on 90 Sprague Dawley male rats. Group1(normal control) was given a standard diet for the entire study period, while the remaining sixty rats were given a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks to induce obesity. The obese rats were randomly assigned to group 2 (Obese Control) and Group 3 (obese + Stevia) and given HFD for another 6 weeks. The stevia leaf powder was added to the diet of group 3. Diet intake was noted for all the groups. Rats were weighed on the first day of every week, for six weeks, and then at the end of the study period.      Results: Body weights of rats in each group, at the start and end of the 6-week intervention period, when compared, showed a significant increase in group 1 (p=0.001), and group 2 (p = 0.001), while group 3 showed a non-significant increase (p = 0.248). The percentage increase in body weight for groups 1, 2, and 3 was 4.8, 9.3, and 1.1, respectively. Graphically, the weekly increase in average body weights of the three experimental groups showed maximum values for group 2. Conclusions: Stevia leaf possesses weight-reducing effects which may be due to inhibition of appetite, reduction in food intake, and consequent weight loss. Keywords: Obesity, weight loss, Natural non-nutritive sweeteners, Stevi

Impact of a global pandemic on surgical education and training- review, response, and reflection

The catastrophic effects of the coronavirus disease-2019 global pandemic have revolutionised human society. The unprecedented impact on surgical training needs to be analysed in detail to achieve an understanding of how to deal with similar situations arising in the foreseeable future. The challenges faced by the surgical community initiated with the suspension of clinical activities and elective practice, and included the lack of appropriate personal protective equipment, and the self-isolation of trainees and reassignment to coronavirus patient-care regions. Together, all these elements had deleterious effects on the psychological health of the professionals. Surgical training irrespective of specialty is equally affected globally by the pandemic. However, the global crisis inadvertently has led to a few constructive adaptations in healthcare systems, including the development of tele-clinics, virtual academic sessions and conferences, and increased usage of simulation. The current review article was planned to highlight the impact of corona virus disease on surgical training and institutions\u27 response to the situation in order to continue surgical training, and lessons learnt from the pandemic

In a digitally connected world through likes, hashtags and followers - advancing surgical research through a social media: A narrative review

In this era of modern information technology, the world is now digitally connected through various platforms on social media, which has changed the way medical professionals work, communicate and learn. The use of social media in surgery is expanding, and it is now becoming an essential tool for surgical training, research and networking. Articles, journal clubs and surgical conferences are within reach of everyone regardless of geographical location worldwide. Electronic publications have now resoundingly replaced printed editions of journals. Collaborative research through social media platforms helps collect diverse data, enhancing the research\u27s global generalisability. The current narrative review was planned to discuss the importance of social media in advancing surgical research and the use of different social media applications in the context of promoting and disseminating surgical research alongside its evolving ethical challenges

Self-Medication Practice Among the General Community Of An Urban Squatter Settlement Near PNS Shifa Karachi

Objective: To assess the frequencyof self-medication amongst the residents of urban squatter settlement near PNS Shifa Karachiand to assess the factors leading to this practice. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the city of Karachi. The subjects were the community in general. A total of 60 subjects were enrolled and were either interviewed face-to-face or were asked to fill out the questionnaire relating to their self-medication practice. Results: Out of 60 subjects, 38 (63.3%) preferred the practice of self-medication. Minor ailment was the main reason for self-medication, 27 (45%) subjects responded headache as the most common reason and paracetamol was the most frequently used drug for self medication. It was used by 44(73.3%) of the subjects Conclusion: The practice of self medication is high in the community and there is a need to develop awareness of self-medication practice in the public along with restrictions for the pharmacies providing drugs without prescription

Ultrasonography Determination of Renal Stones with Flank Pain Among Children at Radiology Department of Children Hospital Lahore, Pakistan

Background : In children kidney stones are a standout amongst the majority widely recognized persistent kidney disease in kids. The most widely recognized indication of urolithiasis is stomach ache, in adult plainly particular as colicky ache, in babies and kids. Radiographic assessment of a patient through flank ache analyzes the reason for the ache. Ultrasonography (US) can recognize 90% of stones present in the kidney. Objective:  To evaluate the ultrasonography determination of renal stones with flank pain among children. Place And Duration: The duration of stud was from 01 March to 01 September 2019 at Children Hospital Lahore, Pakistan. Method And Meterial : A cross sectional observational study was included 140 patient’s coming for abdominal and KUB ultrasonography to radiology department of Children Hospital, Lahore. The patients were chosen through convenient sampling technique. All the examined patients including men and women among kids of age ranging from 1 to 16 years. Results: Overall 140 patients are included in this research. Out of 140 patients men were 92(65.7%) and women were 48(34.3%) in this study population. In 140 patients, 47(33.6%) were identified with kidney stones and 93(66.4%) were recognized without kidney stones. Out of 140 individuals 76(54.3%) patients contained ache and in 48(34.3%) pain is radiating the remaining 16(11.4%) had no pain. Conclusion: Ultrasonography is extremely helpful in the evaluation of nephrolithiasis with flank ache amongst children

Does malaria during pregnancy affect the newborn?

Objective: To investigate the effect of malarial infection during pregnancy on the newborn.Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi, using in-patient hospital records over an 11-year period from 1988 to 1999. The incidence of preterm delivery, low birth weight (LBW) and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) in 29 pregnant women with malaria, was compared with that in 66 selected pregnant women without malaria, who delivered at the AKUH during the same time period.Results: Pregnant women with malaria had a 3.1 times greater risk of preterm labor (p=0.14). They were more likely to be anaemic compared to women without malaria (RR=2.9, 95% CI=1.6-5.4) and had a significantly lower mean haemoglobin level (p=0.0001). Maternal malaria was significantly associated with LBW babies (p=0.001). The mean birth weight of infants born to pregnant women with malaria was 461 g less (p=0.0005). No significant association was, however, found between malarial infection during pregnancy and IUGR (p=0.33).CONCLUSION: Malarial infection during pregnancy is associated with poor maternal and fetal outcome. It is significantly associated with maternal anaemia and LBW infants. Appropriate measures must, therefore, be taken to prevent malaria during pregnancy, especially in endemic areas