Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: As many as 21 complex paediatric surgeries involving newborns to adolescents were live-streamed during the 49th national conference of the Indian Association of Paediatric Surgeons (IAPS), which concluded here, on Sunday.Organising secretary of the conference, Dr R J Totla, said for the first time in the history of the IAPS, so many complex paediatric surgeries were performed during the national conference.Surgeries with modern laparoscopic and endoscopic techniques, along with open surgeries, were specially arranged during the conference. These surgeries were carried out at MGM Hospital and were live-streamed on multiple large screens at the conference venue, he said.A total of 410 paediatric surgeons and paediatric urologists from different parts of the country benefitted from the live-streaming of surgeries, which successfully corrected various anomalies in children reported at the time of birth and later stages.After every surgery, a detailed discussion on procedures performed was carried out by involving the respective group of doctors. The conference served as the platform for dissemination of the latest medical advances in paediatric surgeries and it will eventually alleviate the suffering of thousands of kids from the country, Totla said.The organisers said parents of the children who benefitted from the surgeries did not have to pay a single penny. While a portion of surgeries were performed free of cost, for a few cases, existing government schemes were availed, Totla said.The conference, which was taking place for the first time in the city under the chairmanship of Dr Dasmit Singh Khokar, also dwelt upon a range of other issues, including the dearth of paediatric surgeons and paediatric urologists in India and the need to incorporate maximum paediatric surgeries within the government health programmes and schemes.In his inaugural address, Union minister of state for finance, Dr Bhagwat Karad, pledged support for the inclusion of paediatric surgeries within medical insurance schemes. We will hold consultations with different insurance providers to ensure the lives of a maximum number of children are saved. The Indian Association of Paediatric Surgeons has to take a lead on this front by moving a formal proposal, said Karad, who himself is a paediatric surgeon.We also published the following articles recentlyLancet report lists roadmap to fight cancer surgery crisisA report from the Lancet Oncology Commission on Global Cancer Surgery has highlighted the global cancer surgery crisis, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as India. The report emphasizes the need to address the lack of access to safe and affordable cancer surgery, as well as the financial burden it places on patients. It calls for increased focus on surgery and surgeons in cancer care, upgrading technology, increasing research, and creating an adequate cancer surgical workforce. The report projects a significant workforce gap in 2040 if action is not taken.Mark Zuckerberg undergoes surgery for martial arts knee injuryMeta Platforms Inc. CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed on Instagram that he recently underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL sustained during a mixed martial arts session. Despite the injury, the 39-year-old plans to continue training for a competitive MMA fight in early 2022. Zuckerberg, who founded Facebook (now Meta), is actively involved in various areas such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and the metaverse.Lucknow: Laser eye surgery facility inaugurated at Central Command HospitalThe Central Command Hospital in Lucknow has opened a laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) center to meet the high demand for laser eye surgery. The facility, worth Rs 10 crore, offers advanced refractive surgical treatment to correct refractive errors and corneal diseases. The Contoura LASIK installed at the center has modern features for precise surgery and early recovery. The facility is expected to provide Rs 50 lakh worth of treatment every month on average. The inauguration was attended by high-ranking military officials.

Stay updated with all the Latest Aurangabad headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.