Karachi: Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi‘s Medical & Social Welfare Committee organized a seminar titled “The Rising Trend of Cesarean Section During Childbirth in Pakistan? … Reasons, Causes and Solutions” at Haseena Moin Hall. Renowned gynaecologist Professor Dr Shershah Syed, Prof. Shabeen Naz Masood, Professor Dr Sonia Naqvi, and Dr Bushra Mohsin spoke on the occasion. Renowned doctors, including Arts Council President Muhammad Ahmad Shah, attended the event. Speaking at the seminar, gynaecologist Dr Shershah Syed said that it is a serious question why such a large number of cesarean sections are being performed on women. “Was a woman created so that her abdomen could be cut?” he asked. He said that more than 20,000 women die every year in Pakistan due to complications during childbirth, which is a shameful reality for any civilized society. He stated that cesarean section has become a procedure that brings high financial gain, which is why it is being excessively and unnecessarily used. “The first normal delivery may be difficult, but the second and third become easier, whereas in cesarean sections it is the opposite, the first cesarean is easier, while subsequent ones become more dangerous,” he explained. Dr. Shershah Syed further said that in many places, instead of experienced gynaecologists, such doctors are performing cesarean sections that carry out 10 to 12 operations a day and then leave. “Immediately after a cesarean section, the baby is separated from the mother, who affects the child’s immunity, whereas a mother’s lap is extremely important for a newborn,” he said. Giving examples, he said that in countries like the United States, Denmark, and Norway, midwives conduct normal deliveries, resulting in healthy mothers and children. He emphasized that the rate of cesarean sections in Pakistan should not exceed ten percent. Professor Dr Shabeen Naz Masood said that as the use of modern equipment and gadgets is increasing, the trend of cesarean sections is also rising. Unfortunately, at times, doctors’ behaviour with patients is harsh, due to which patients start demanding cesarean sections. She said that in some cases, decisions for cesarean delivery are made based on unnecessary tests, even when the issue is not that serious. She added that the first cesarean section paves the way for the future, and most women are then forced to undergo cesarean delivery again. She warned that quackery and home deliveries conducted by traditional birth attendants are extremely dangerous. “Delivering the baby alone is not enough; the baby’s oxygen levels and the mother’s condition must also be monitored,” she said. She stressed that families should choose hospitals where both mother and child receive complete care. She further stated that, unfortunately, in some major hospitals, the number of cesarean sections is linked with revenue, which is a wrong and regrettable approach. Professor Dr Sonia Naqvi said that in our society, there are people who put up boards of gynaecologists and run clinics without any authentic degree, earning money unlawfully. “I personally know many such individuals,” she said. She added that pregnancy is not a disease and children are born even in fields, but here, unnecessary fear is created to force women into cesarean sections. “Once a woman undergoes a cesarean section, she has to face the same procedure again in the future,” she said. She further said that some doctors, due to a lack of time, pressure patients into agreeing to cesarean sections, which is sheer injustice. Dr Bushra Mohsin said that they always try their best to ensure normal delivery and avoid cesarean sections, but in some women, complications arise where a cesarean section becomes unavoidable. She said that gynaecologists are also human beings, and sometimes doctors are threatened with violence or vandalism by the patient’s family, due to which they are forced to decide in favor of a cesarean section.
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