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Change your Life! |
Oral maxillofacial surgery can be done in Bangladesh |
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News
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April 23, 2000
Dhaka, Apr 21 (UNB) - Now the dream of a doctor is emerging as realistic as oral maxillofacial surgery can be done here in Bangladesh to cope with the demand for treatment of serious oral complications and diseases suffered by a number large people in the country. “Dream is now turned into miracle because now everything falls into place. Ten years ago politicians of Bangladesh never wanted to understand the necessity of the oral maxillofacial surgery. Now they have understood,” an Australian Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon who played a pioneering role in developing expertise in the oral maxillofacial surgery in Bangladesh has told UNB. Once Health Ministers of Bangladesh didn’t know OMS and were reluctant to finance in training program in this field. Now the Health Minster has understood its necessity and investing fund for developing the special branch of dental surgery, said Dr Barry Fitzpatrick who is now in Dhaka.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) deals with facial bone fracture, congenial cleft lip or plate, jaw deformity, oral cancer and jaw joint diseases. Of all cancer patients in Bangladesh, 20 percent are suffering from oral cancer and one in 1000 suffering from cleft-lip or plate can be effectively treated through OMS. Some 40 to 50 thousand people are affected by oral cancer every year in Bangladesh, according to an expert.
In 1991, an Australian surgeon, Dr Fitzpatrick in association with Dr Motiur Rahman Molla, associate professor and Head of Oral Surgery department of Dhaka Dental College initiated and launched a joint project, Australia-Bangladesh Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Project, to develop local expertise for treatment of mouth and facial diseases. Under this project, every year self funded Australian surgeons or teachers have been coming to Bangladesh between October and March every year, two surgeons in each month, and providing academic and surgical service to students and patients free of cost. Nearly 80 Australian surgeons and teachers have so far visited Bangladesh to fulfil the mission of the project. In its tireless efforts the project management particularly with Dr Barry, present chairman Dr John Arvier of Australia and Dr Molla , chairman Bangladesh side have succeeded to launch Master of Surgery course in OMS in Dhaka Dental College , first of its kind in Bangladesh. Now 12 students are studying in the 3-year MS course. After completion of the post-graduate study, they will have to take two-year training for becoming a skill surgeon. Dr Molla, now associate professor and head of OMS department in Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital has been given responsibility as the course coordinator of MS (OMS). Apart from giving lecture and training, Australian teachers are involved in examination procedure particularly for final part of MS (OMS) examination as external and also as thesis examiner. Under the program each student after passing the first part in MS and on merit basis will visit for short training for three months in Australia. The AUS Aid will bear all the expenses, Tk 2.50 lakh for each student. Already two MS students have visited Australia. Dr Barry, founder chairman of the project will stay Dhaka for four days to see the development and progress of the project, his dream, and to expedite the official formalities to make a long term agreement between Australia and Bangladesh government for development of the project.
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