960425

Counselling vital

to avoid having

retarded child

KARACHI: Scientists addressing a conference here on Thursday enumerated genetic counselling prerequisite for all parents planning to raise families as an efficient mode to prevent possible mental or physical disabilities among their conceived offspring.

The conference on 'Genetic Counselling Principles and Ethics' held under the aegis of Special Teachers and Parents Resource Centre (STPRC) and Dr. Aziz Research Institute of Special Education was addressed by Director, Biological Research Centre, Karachi University and Dr. Shakil Farooqui, Genetics Department, Karachi University.

A panel of medical experts and scientists comprising Dr. Amin Gadit (Baqai Medical University), Capt. Farhan Vahidy (Army Medical College), Dr. Abdul Sattar, Dr. Illahi Baksh and Dr. Maqsood Ansari answered the queries raised by the parents and teachers of special children.

Dr. Ehsan Vahidy in his presentation mentioned that the tendency of close or inter-relatives marriages was an additional risk factor in Pakistan.

He said that late marriage to conceive child very late, caused the birth of mentally/ physically retarded baby as mongolian child.

He underscored the need not to confuse genetic diseases with contagious diseases.

Dr. Vahidy said that these disorders were mainly hereditary with no cure. "So it is always advisable to seek expert advice and opt for prevention."

About the concept of genetic counselling he said that as there were certain limitations of the counsellors, one should never attempt to impose a decision on the one seeking advice.

Prof. Shakil Farooqui strongly dispelled the impression that genetic in any way was a faculty attempting to challenge religion and said it actually helped to understand the injunctions of Quran.

He said that since retarded children were also the creation of God thus it was important for society to make adequate arrangements for their care.

Dr. Farooqui also mentioned that genetic diseases were also complemented by environmental factors leading to problems as schizopherania, hypertension, diabetes, bronchial asthma, congenital heart malformation and so forth.-APP